Švihov is located in the Vysočina and Central Bohemian regions, predominantly in the Křemešník Highlands.

The reservoir is built on the Želivka river, four kilometres from its confluence with the Sázava.

[2] Initially, several solutions were considered for the water management use of the Želivka River, e.g. creating a cascade of several smaller reservoirs.

[4] The main purpose of the reservoir is to supply a large area of the country with drinking water, specifically most of the capital city of Prague and the Central Bohemian Region, and parts of the Vysočina Region.

The visitor centre organizes guided tours of the dam of the Švihov Reservoir.