Lakes in Bulgaria
Find lakes in Bulgaria: 4 designated lake bathing waters classified under the EU Bathing Water Directive. 4 are rated Excellent for 2025.
The same country also has official phosphorus, chlorophyll-a, and Secchi for 11 named lakes, sampled 2022–2023. Those are nutrient and clarity readings, a different measurement from the Directive's bacteria class.
Updated 2025
Lake map
Map shows 15 lakes with coordinates
Best-rated lakes to swim in Bulgaria
Officially classified Excellent for the 2025 bathing season, ranked by how often that class has held.
- ЯЗОВИР ПЧЕЛИНА 2Excellent · Excellent 10/11 seasons
- ЯЗОВИР КЪРДЖАЛИ-ПЛАЖ 1Excellent · Excellent 7/11 seasons
- ЯЗОВИР КЪРДЖАЛИ-ПЛАЖ 2Excellent · Excellent 7/11 seasons
- ЯЗОВИР СТУДЕН КЛАДЕНЕЦExcellent · Excellent 7/11 seasons
Every rated bathing water in Bulgaria
- ЯЗОВИР ПЧЕЛИНА 2Excellent · Excellent 10/11 seasons
- ЯЗОВИР КЪРДЖАЛИ-ПЛАЖ 1Excellent · Excellent 7/11 seasons
- ЯЗОВИР КЪРДЖАЛИ-ПЛАЖ 2Excellent · Excellent 7/11 seasons
- ЯЗОВИР СТУДЕН КЛАДЕНЕЦExcellent · Excellent 7/11 seasons
Named lakes
| Lake | Place | Total phosphorus | Chlorophyll-a | Secchi | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dam Aleksandar Stamboliyski | — | 46 µg/L | 2.6 µg/L | 3.0 m | 2022 |
| Dam Batak | — | 32 µg/L | 3.0 µg/L | 2.9 m | 2023 |
| Dam Dospat | — | 21 µg/L | — | 4.5 m | 2023 |
| Dam Ivaiilovgrad | — | 48 µg/L | 4.9 µg/L | 3.5 m | 2023 |
| Dam Jrebchevo | — | 27 µg/L | — | 2.5 m | 2023 |
| Dam Kardjali | — | 45 µg/L | — | 3.3 m | 2023 |
| Dam Koprinka | — | 36 µg/L | 15 µg/L | 2.2 m | 2023 |
| Dam Ogosta | — | 53 µg/L | 11 µg/L | 3.4 m | 2023 |
| Dam Studen Kladenec | — | 48 µg/L | — | 4.5 m | 2022 |
| Dam Topolnica | — | 42 µg/L | 7.4 µg/L | 2.3 m | 2023 |
| Tsonevo Dam | — | 22 µg/L | — | 4.0 m | 2023 |
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Frequently asked questions
- Which lakes in Bulgaria are best to swim in?
- 4 of 4 designated bathing waters in Bulgaria are rated Excellent for 2025 under the EU Bathing Water Directive. That class measures E. coli and intestinal enterococci only — it is not a safety clearance.
- Is it safe to swim in Bulgaria lakes?
- The official class is a bacteriological rating, not a safety clearance. It does not cover algal blooms, nutrients, water clarity, currents, or depth. Conditions change after heavy rain. Check local signage and the operator's current notices before entering the water.
- How is lake water quality measured in Bulgaria?
- 11 named lakes in Bulgaria have official phosphorus, chlorophyll-a, and Secchi from the Executive Environment Agency of Bulgaria, via UNEP GEMS/Water, 2022–2023. These are the authority's own measurements, shown as reported.
- Whose ratings do the Bulgaria lake pages show?
- The publishing authority's own. Pages for lakes in Bulgaria show the values and classes that authority reports, with the season or year each was taken.
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