Batak Hydropower Way, Hydroelectric cascade in Pazardzhik Province, Bulgaria.
The Batak Hydropower Way is a series of seven reservoirs and three underground power plants that span across the water system of the Rhodope Mountains. The facilities use the natural slope of the mountains to generate electricity and manage stored water for multiple purposes.
The project started in the 1940s after an engineer had proposed the initial dam idea at this location back in the 1920s. Construction of the complete cascade stretched over several decades and became a major infrastructure undertaking of that era.
The cascade stands as a testament to Bulgarian engineering skill and shows the country's commitment to using water power in the mountains. It shaped an entire region and changed how people use energy and water in this area.
The site is located in the mountains and reachable via roads that wind through the Rhodope region. Visitors should note that some parts of the facilities are not freely accessible since they are active power plants.
One of the facilities was the country's first underground hydropower station, built beneath the mountain to use water from a neighboring dam. This hidden construction was a technical innovation of its time and still allows uninterrupted operations today.
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