Where is Belmeken Reservoir?
Bulgaria, europe
25.8 km
1,932 m
moderate
Year-round
Okay, picture this: you're cruising through Bulgaria's Pazardzhik Province, heading towards a hidden gem called Belmeken Reservoir. Perched way up at 1,932m (that's 6,338ft!), this place is seriously stunning.
You'll find it tucked away near Velingrad, right in the heart of Rila National Park in the southwest of the country. Belmeken, meaning "Famous place", is the highest dam lake in the Balkans! Construction finished in the early 70s, and the area's now perfect for picnics, fishing, and biking.
The road up is a paved ribbon winding through these gorgeous old coniferous woods. Keep your eyes peeled for potholes! It's not super busy, but it can get a bit tight if you meet another car. And get this—it's got 12 hairpin turns, so it's been part of the WRC Rally Bulgaria!
Starting from Sestrimo, it's a 25.8km (16.03mi) climb with an elevation gain of 1,303 meters. That's an average gradient of 5.05%. And if you keep going south of the dam, there's a minor paved road that peaks even higher at 2,062m (6,765ft). You're basically on top of the world! This is also one of the highest roads in Bulgaria, alongside Kalin Reservoir.
Road Details
- Country
- Bulgaria
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 25.8 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,932 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
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