Ivaylovgrad Dam

Dam in Bulgaria

Dam in km north-west of Ivaylovgrad / Haskovo Province, Bulgaria

41°32′2″N 26°6′27″E / 41.53389°N 26.10750°E / 41.53389; 26.10750Construction began1959Opening date1964Owner(s)NEK EADOperator(s)NEK EADDam and spillwaysType of damConcrete gravity damImpoundsArda RiverHeight73 m (240 ft)Length250 m (820 ft)Spillway typefixed-crest, overflow spillway at two levelsSpillway capacity5,250 m³/s (185,000 cu ft/s)ReservoirCreatesIvaylovgrad ReservoirTotal capacity157,000,000 m³ (127,000 acre⋅ft)Catchment area5,128 km² (1,980 sq mi)Surface area15.2 km² (5.9 sq mi)Power StationOperator(s)NEK EADHydraulic head52 m (171 ft) (Max)Turbines4 x Francis-typeInstalled capacity104 MWAnnual generation195 GWh

The Ivaylovgrad Dam(язовир "Ивайловград") is located in the eastern Rhodope Mountains and is situated on the Arda river, Southern Bulgaria. There are another two large dams of the Arda upstream - Kardzhali Dam and Studen Kladenets Dam to the west of Ivaylovgrad Dam.

The dam creates Ivaylovgrad reservoir, which has a total volume of 157,000,000 m³ (127,000 acre⋅ft) and a drainage basin of 5,128 km² (1,980 sq mi). It is situated at an average 120 m above sea level, its dam being 250 m (820 ft) long and 73 m (240 ft) high. The top of the dam consists of six spillways, totaling 83.5 m (274 ft) m in length.^[1]^[2]

Ivaylovgrad Reservoir is an attractive place for tourists and fishermen, where rudd is caught in great numbers.

Hydroelectric generation

Arda Hydro Power Cascade consist of three large hydro power sites, mainly used for electricity generation, with a total installed capacity of 331 MW and a total annual output of over 520 GWh. Ivaylovgrad hydroelectric power plant (HPP) is the last stage of the Arda cascade. The initial plans for the construction of a dam on the Arda date to as early as 1948. Construction began in 1959 and was completed in 1964, with the HPP starting production the same year. "Ivaylovgrad" Hydroelectric Power Plant is built-in inside the dam. The HPP has four Francis-type turbines, 26 MW each with a mean annual generation of 195 GWh/y.