Chaira reservoir, reservoir

Chaira reservoir lies in the land of Sestrimo, Pazardzhik Province, about 5 km east of the larger Belmeken reservoir, on the course of the Chairski river. Its concrete gravity dam stands 86.2 m high and impounds 5.6 million cubic metres over 0.2 square kilometres. It serves as the lower equalising reservoir of the Chaira and Belmeken pumped-storage plants, linked by a connecting derivation to Stankovi Baraki reservoir.

Chaira reservoir was built between 1975 and 1989 on the course of the Chairska reka, in the territory of Sestrimo in Pazardzhik Province, about 5 km east of the larger Belmeken reservoir. It forms part of the Belmeken–Sestrimo–Chaira cascade, together with the Stankovi baraki reservoir, to which it is linked by a connecting derivation. Plans call for a link to the new Yadenitsa reservoir to raise the storage capacity of the two plants.

Chaira reservoir is not open to visitors: it serves as the lower equalizing basin of the Chaira and Belmeken pumped-storage plants, and its water level rises and falls with their operation. The reservoir lies in the land of Sestrimo, Pazardzhik Province, about 5 km east of the larger Belmeken reservoir. The dam is a concrete gravity structure 86.2 m high.

The system can pump water back into the reservoir at night, functioning like a giant battery for storing energy. This reversible capability allows it to generate electricity during peak demand times or store excess power from other sources.