Dospat Reservoir, Artificial reservoir in Rhodope Mountains, Bulgaria.
The Dospat Reservoir is an artificial lake in the western Rhodope Mountains of Bulgaria, stretching for 19 kilometers through forested mountain slopes. Deep water sits between steep shores lined with coniferous trees and rocky ridges.
Built between 1963 and 1968 in the Dospat River valley, the reservoir flooded a fertile valley where grain was grown and harvest workers were hired from surrounding villages. The villages of Orlino, Barduche and part of Krushata were evacuated; a WWII military airfield lay in Orlino's submerged land. In 1971, with the Teshel plant idle, water spilled over the trench spillway.
Anglers come here to fish for perch and trout in the cool waters, often using spinning lures or flies. This style of fishing has become part of local life since the waters filled with fish.
Four mountain roads lead to surrounding towns, with some routes featuring steep curves and narrow sections. Ask locals about the best approaches depending on where you are coming from.
The reservoir has no power plant at its dam; water is diverted through a 51.5 m tunnel to the Teshel HPP. In 1971, when Teshel was not operating, the reservoir overflowed its 36 m³/s spillway. The dam is a 60.5 m high rockfill structure with a clay core, and three landslides near it are constantly monitored.
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