Koprinka Dam

Koprinka Dam was constructed between 1947 and 1954 on the Tundzha River in central Bulgaria. During its construction, archaeologists made a sensational discovery: the remains of Seuthopolis, the capital of the ancient Thracian Odrysian kingdom. The city, founded by Seuthes III in the 4th century BC, was fully excavated before being submerged by the dam's reservoir. Today, Seuthopolis remains entirely underwater at the bottom of the lake. The dam itself features a wall over 600 meters long and 44 meters high, serving as a major source for irrigation and hydroelectric power. The reservoir is a popular destination for water sports, fishing, and camping, offering panoramic views of the Balkan Mountains. It stands as a unique site where modern infrastructure meets submerged ancient history. Various proposals have been made to build a circular dam around the ruins of Seuthopolis to make them accessible again.

Nearby cities

Banya (Stara Zagora)

Banya near Stara Zagora is a rural settlement in the Thracian Plain.

Pleven

Pleven is located in northern Bulgaria and is an important regional commercial hub.

Yambol

Yambol is located in southeastern Bulgaria on both banks of the Tundzha River.

Veliko Tarnovo Cultural Quarter

The historical center of Veliko Tarnovo displays the architecture and history of the national revival.

Batenberg (Veliko Tarnovo)

Batenberg near Veliko Tarnovo is located in a historically significant region of northern Bulgaria.

Banya (Veliko Tarnovo)

Banya near Veliko Tarnovo is a small rural place.

Batenberg (Pazardzhik 2)

Another small settlement Batenberg near Pazardzhik.

Batenberg (Pazardzhik)

Batenberg is a small town near Pazardzhik, embedded in the agriculturally used Thracian Plain.

Asenovgrad

Asenovgrad is located at the foot of the Rhodope Mountains, south of Plovdiv.

Gabrovo

Gabrovo is located on the northern slopes of the Balkan Mountains and is a traditional center of the textile industry.

Kardzhali

Kardzhali is located in the Eastern Rhodope Mountains in southern Bulgaria.

Yabulkovo

Yabulkovo is a settlement in southern Bulgaria.

Targovishte

Targovishte is a city in northeastern Bulgaria.

Banya (Veliko Tarnovo 2)

Banya near Veliko Tarnovo is a small settlement.

Smolyan

Smolyan is the highest regional administrative center in Bulgaria.

History & landmarks

Arbanasi

A historic village on a high plateau, famous for its fortress-like stone houses and magnificently painted Orthodox churches.

Sopot

Sopot is nestled at the foot of the Balkan Mountains, famous as the birthplace of Ivan Vazov and Bulgaria's premier paragliding hub.

Troyan

Famous for the third-largest monastery in Bulgaria and its centuries-old tradition of handmade ceramics.