About Trakiets Dam

Trakiets Reservoir is situated on the Maritsa River in southern Bulgaria near the village of Trakiets in Haskovo Province. Completed in 1961 with a capacity of 114.0 MCM, the reservoir was constructed primarily for irrigation purposes to serve the agricultural lands of the Upper Thracian Plain and Haskovo Region. The Maritsa at this point is one of the larger rivers of the Balkan Peninsula, flowing across a broad alluvial plain before crossing into Turkey and eventually reaching the Aegean Sea. Trakiets provides irrigation water for a productive agricultural zone where cotton, tobacco, grain, and vegetables are widely cultivated. It also contributes to drinking water supply for Haskovo and neighbouring towns and provides industrial water to the Haskovo industrial zone. The reservoir is a popular angling destination, hosting regular freshwater fishing competitions. The surrounding Thracian Plain landscape is characterised by its flat terrain, warm continental climate with hot summers, and high summer water demand that places considerable pressure on the reservoir during drought years. The reservoir name reflects the region's deep Thracian archaeological heritage: the Upper Thracian Plain and Eastern Rhodopes around Haskovo contain numerous ancient Thracian tombs, treasure hoards, and cult sites, some of outstanding European significance.