Bulgaria · Rhodopes

Studen Kladenets Reservoir

Directions

язовир Студен кладенец

The Studen Kladenets reservoir is one of the largest lakes in Bulgaria, about 25 km long, on the middle Arda in the Eastern Rhodopes, with its upper end reaching the town of Kardzhali. The Varbitsa river also flows into it. Below the dam, the Arda runs through the rocky gorge of Sheytana (“the Devil’s”), with cliffs and bushy slopes.

How it formed

Work began in 1955, hampered by floods on the river, and the dam was opened on 15 June 1958. The concrete wall is 67.5 m high with a road along the crest, and it was the first on this stretch of the Arda. It evens out the river’s very uneven flow and serves irrigation and power, and silt has cut the lake’s volume by about a fifth.

History

The village of Darets was completely submerged during construction.

Nature

This is a strong site for birds of prey: Egyptian, griffon and black vultures, short-toed snake eagles and sometimes imperial eagles, with black storks and rock nuthatches too. Grebes, herons and gulls live on the water, and great white pelicans stop on their way south in autumn. The Golemiat Sipei protected area lies on the left bank and the Valchi Dol reserve on the right.

Visit

Swimming

No reliable information

Tips

Spring to autumn is best for birds. You need your own transport, and there are unpaved roads and narrow trails, with no hide. Rooms are very limited at the site itself, so you can stay at the Vulture Centre in Madzharovo, which also gives local advice, or in Kardzhali.

Local anglers favour the bay by Shiroka Polyana and Zvezdelina and the slopes near Gnyazdovo and Kaloyantsi, and the lake is also used for rowing and other water sports. Nearby sights include Perperikon, the Monyak fortress, the Stone Wedding and the Thracian sanctuary at Tatul.