The most beautiful Bulgarian dams

Dams have many applications - helping to control the levels of the rivers supplying drinking and irrigation water and generate electricity for millions of people. Since the time of the ancient Egyptians, they've played a key role in building the modern world we know today.

Besides the above applications dams are interesting tourist attraction and offer opportunities for sports (fishing, boating) and recreation. In the following lines we suggest you look at some of the most beautiful Bulgarian dams.

Dospat

Dospat is dam on the Dospat river in the Western Rhodopes. With its 18.3 square kilometers of size it is among the largest in area and volume in Bulgaria. The reservoir provides opportunities for fishing carp, trout, chub, perch, roach and bream.

The territories which were flooded while constructing the dam were once a fertile valley. Dam construction and flooding of the valley led to the evacuation of several villages – Orlino, Bozhalan, Barduche and Arnudli villages.

Vacha

Vacha Dam is located in southern Bulgaria, in the Rhodope region, along the river Vacha, on the border between the districts of Plovdiv, Smolyan and Pazardjik and is a part of the cascade Dospat-Vacha. It provides part of the drinking water for Plovdiv and is used for irrigation of the Plovdiv area. The dam has the highest dam wall in Bulgaria - 144.5 m. and many pontoons.

Vucha grows a wide variety of fish - carp, bream, perch, roach, bream, chub, perch, Nase, catfish, bleak, sun fish, carp, roach and pike, therefore it is a very popular destination for fishing. The dam is located in one of the most beautiful mountains in Bulgaria – the Rhodope mountain and is surrounded by beautiful nature.

Ivaylovgrad

With its 36 kilometers, it is the longest dam in the country. The dam is in the river bed of Arda - Ivaylovgrad Municipality, but the pool of the reservoir is large and also extends to the municipalities of Madzharovo, Liubimetz and Krumovgrad. It was built in 1964 and has 64 km of coastline much of which is covered with dense deciduous forests. The dam’s waters are home to many species of fish - catfish, carp, whitefish, perch, chub, roach, bleak, and more. This makes it particularly suitable for fishing. The dam provides conditions for water sports too - every year in early June, here is the final regatta of the Republican canoe.

Ticha

A tour around the Ticha dam is over 100 kilometers - the largest dam tour in Bulgaria. The reservoir can catch bream, carp, catfish, bream, rudd, chub and perch.

The nearest town is Veliki Preslav, which is less than 10 km from the weir of the dam. When creating the dam below the level of its waters remained the villages of Vinnitsa and Staroselka and their inhabitants were displaced. A unique stone wall was found in excavations near the dam – the wall has 3 towers in is supposed to be build 5 thousand years BC.

Batak

Batak Dam is located about 1100 meters above the sea level in the Western Rhodopes in Pazardzhik region. It lies on the river Matnitsa and 4 km from the village of Batak and 12 km from the town of Velingrad. Its area is 22 square kilometers, and the volume - 309 million cubic meters. The dam was build in 1959 on the site of the Batak swamp. Its length is about 9 km and maximum depth - 34 meters.

This is a favorite vacation spot for the people who like to enjoy the mountain, in peace and comfort, with the possibility of year-round fishing. On the western shore of the lake is the mountain resort Cigov Chark, and on the other side resort Danoto.

Ogosta

The Ogosta dam is located in northwestern Bulgaria and is the fourth in area and second largest artificial reservoir in Bulgaria. It gathers the waters of the rivers Ogosta, Barzia and Zlatitza and is located 600 meters from the suburbs of Montana town. The dam’s construction lasted 20 years and ended in 1986. Since its very opening the dam raises doubts that it is dangerous for the near a regional center and the surrounding villages. Urban legend has it that the bottom of the lake mutant fishes product of water pollution.

Jrebchevo

The dam is located in a beautiful sub-mountain area, near the villages of Banya and Asenovets. It is named after the village submerged below, while building the dam in 1965 Jrebchevo (Atlari). The dam takes an area of a 25 square kilometers and is the fourth biggest dam in Bulgaria. The dam has a lot sleeves with comfortable fishing seats.

Studen Kladenets (Cold Well)

The dam is located in the middle reaches of the Arda river, southeast of the town of Kardzhali. With 27 square kilometers area, it is the second largest in Bulgaria.

If you are a fisherman you must visit this dam as the diversity of species found here is very large. “Cold well” is the most picturesque lake in the Rhodope Mountains, and perhaps in the whole country. Over the northern shore of the lake rises the peak of the Fist which in ancient times was surrounded by 800 foot wall, the foundations can still be seen today. In the central part of the dam can be found an island inhabited by deer.