Lake Pancharevo

Lake Pancharevo
View from the east bank, with the Vitosha Mountains in the background
Coordinates	42°36′00″N 23°24′28″E
Lake type	reservoir
Basin countries	Bulgaria
Max. length	3 km
Max. width	700 m
Max. depth	30 m
Surface elevation	600 m

Lake Pancharevo (Панчаревско езеро, Pancharevsko ezero or Язовир Панчарево, Pancharevo Reservoir) is an artificial lake in western Bulgaria, at the end of the Pancharevo Gorge of the Iskar River, located at 600 m above sea level between the Vitosha and Lozenska mountains. It is 3 km long and up to 700 m wide, reaching a depth of 30 m, and is situated 12 km southeast of the capital city of Sofia, where the Vitoshka Bistritsa flows into the Iskar. The villages of Pancharevo and Kokalyane and the Pancharevo mineral springs and National rowing canal "Sredets" lies on the lake's western shore, while at the southern end of the lake there is a hydroelectric power station. Sports centres and catering establishments have been constructed around the lake, making it a favoured outing location for the residents of Sofia. Further upstream in the gorge there are two additional artificial lakes: the Pasarel Reservoir and the Iskar Reservoir.

Built in 1956 in connection with the construction of Hydrohub "Iskar", created as drinking, irrigation and energy source for the Sofia Agglomeration. The main contribution to the construction of the lake Pancharevo is Ivan Ivanov, the longest and managed successfully mayor of Sofia in the period /1934 - 1944/, who is due to the implementation of many key in shaping the European aspect of capital projects.

Lake Pancharevo from the dam

Rowing regatta on Lake Pancharevo

External links

• Website of Pancharevo
• Images from the lake
• Media related to Pancharevo Lake at Wikimedia Commons