A Soviet Mistake Nobody Expected: A Reservoir Became Wildlife Stronghold

The Matyrskoye Reservoir in the Lipetsk region stands as a clear example of the Soviet Union's excessive industrial planning. An earthen dam, constructed in 1976, flooded floodplains and settlements to create a massive reservoir intended for the Novolipetsk Steel Plant (NLMK) and for irrigation purposes. However, the facility became obsolete before it could even be fully utilized, as the steel plant switched to a closed-loop water recycling system. Covering an area of ​​approximately 45 square kilometers-larger than the city of Dankov-the reservoir transformed from an industrial utility into a biological resource. From 1983 onwards, it served as a food production hub, supported by a fish processing plant with an annual capacity of 250 tons. Species such as zander, bream, catfish, and pike were supplied to the plant's canteens and local kindergartens until the facility eventually closed. Ecological Shift Since the water was never used for industrial purposes, a stable natural ecosystem developed in the area. The upper section of the reservoir is now a state nature reserve.