The Dospat Dam is located at an altitude of 1,200 m in the Western Rhodopes, covering an area of 22.1 km² and is one of the largest in Bulgaria in terms of area and volume. The dam is 19 km long and about 3 km wide, located in a northwest-southeast direction in the territories of the towns of Dospat and Sarnitsa, which are connected by a picturesque road running along its northeast shore. The dam was built between 1963 and 1968, and its filling began in 1967. Before that, the flooded areas were a fertile valley where grain crops were sown, and residents of villages from all over the region were hired as harvesters to gather the crops. The dam is a centre for sport fishing. You can catch carp, trout, mullet, perch, redfin, and crucian carp.
The town of Dospat is located in a mountainous area in the western parts of the Rhodopes, and at 1,358 m above sea level, it is the highest mountain town in Bulgaria. The dam of the same name is located in the immediate vicinity of the town. The terrain is mountainous and rugged; spring comes late, summer is cool, and autumn is warm. Due to the influence of the White Sea along the Dospat River, winter is mild, but snow persists.
The town of Sarnitsa is also located in a mountainous area. It is situated between the Dabrash and Velishki Ridge in the Western Rhodopes. The Dospat River flows nearby, emptying into the Dospat Reservoir. Sarnitsa has an average altitude of about 1,200 m, which is why winter is quite long and cold, but this is compensated by a pleasantly cool summer. The town is surrounded by dense forests, mainly of pine and spruce. The town is located 22 km from Dospat and 180 km from the capital, Sofia.
The shot was taken at the end of October in an east-west direction when the sun was low on the horizon towards the town of Sarnitsa, while the town of Dospat remained to the left and behind me.
