{{Short description|Reservoir in Pazardzhik Province, Bulgaria}} {{Infobox dam | name = Topolnitsa Dam | name_official = {{native name|bg|Язовир Тополница}} | image_caption = | location_map_caption = Location of Topolnitsa Reservoir in Bulgaria | coordinates = {{coord|42|25|53|N|24|00|18|E|type:landmark|display=inline,title}} | location = Sredna Gora at Muhovo | construction_began = 1948 | opening = 1962 | cost = | owner = | dam_type = concrete gravity dam | dam_crosses = | dam_length = | dam_width_base = | spillway_type = | spillway_capacity = | res_name = Topolnitsa Reservoir | res_capacity_total = {{convert|137000000|m3|acre feet|abbr=on}} | res_catchment = {{convert|1381|km2|mi2|abbr=on}} | res_surface = {{convert|4.1|km2|acre|abbr=on}} | res_max_depth = | plant_operator = | plant_commission = | plant_decommission = | plant_hydraulic_head = | plant_turbines = | plant_capacity = | plant_annual_gen = | website = | extra = | image = Topolnitsa Dam 157.JPG | dam_height = {{convert|78|m|ft|abbr=on}} | location_map = Bulgaria }}
'''Topolnitsa Reservoir''' ({{langx|bg|Тополница}}) is a dam and reservoir in the Sredna Gora mountain range of western Bulgaria. Administratively, it is located in Panagyurishte Municipality of Pazardzhik Province and Ihtiman Municipality of Sofia Province.<ref name="Geographic Dictionary of Bulgaria 496">{{harvnb|Geographic Dictionary of Bulgaria|1980|p=496}}</ref><ref name="bsbd">{{cite web |url=https://www.bsbd.bg/UserFiles/File/projects/RNK/Primer%20reka%20Topolnica.pdf|title=Topolnitsa River|website=Official Site of the East Aegean River Basin Directorate|page=32|access-date=24 April 2025}}</ref>
== Geography == The reservoir is situated along the upper middle course of the river Topolnitsa its section, where it forms the divide between ''Ihtimanska Sredna Gora'' to the west and ''Sashtinska Sredna Gora'' to the east. The right tributary of the Topolnitsa, the Mativir, flows from the west into the middle section of the reservoir.<ref>{{harvnb|Geographic Dictionary of Bulgaria|1980|p=330}}</ref> There are two settlements along its shores, the villages of Muhovo at the dam wall to the south, and Poibrene at its tail to the north. Topolnitsa Reservoir is accessible via the third class III-801 road at Muhovo and the third class III-801 road at Poibrene, which leads to the town of Panagyurishte further east.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.api.bg/bg/1607347252.html |title=A Map of the Republican Road Network of Bulgaria|website=Official Site of the Road Infrastructure Agency|access-date=8 April 2025}}</ref> There are many villas and bungalows around the shores of the dam. It is an attractive destination for fishing and outdoors activities.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.slrb.bg/yazovir-topolnitsa-edno-bezkrayno-lyushkane-v-nivoto/|title= The Level of Topolnitsa Reservoir Shows Large Variations |website=Official Site of the National Union of Hunters and Anglers |access-date=24 April 2025}}</ref>
== Dam == The first hydrological studies for the construction of the dam were conducted in 1936. Construction began in 1948 and finished in 1963. The dam is built of concrete and reaches a height of 78 m and a length of 336 m. The dam spillway has a capacity of 1,500 m<sup>3</sup>/s and is equipped with 4 valves. Topolnitsa Reservoir spans a territory of 4.1 km<sup>2</sup>; the catchment area is 1,381 km<sup>2</sup> with an annual precipitation of 603 mm. The projected volume is 137 million m<sup>3</sup>.<ref name="econ">{{cite web |url= https://econ.bg/%D0%9D%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B8/%D0%AF%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%80-%D0%A2%D0%BE%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%86%D0%B0-%D0%B5-%D0%B1%D0%B8%D0%BB-%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BF%D1%83%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%BD-%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%B4-%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%82%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%BB-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%9C%D0%9E%D0%A1%D0%92_l.a_i.86173_at.1.html |title= Topolnitsa Reservoir has been Released under the Control of the Ministry of Environment and Water |website=Econ.bg |access-date=24 April 2025}}</ref>
It is the largest and lowermost of a cascade of three reservoirs constructed along the Topolnitsa, the other being Zhekov Vir and Dushantsi. The main purpose of the reservoir is to irrigate agricultural lands in the Upper Thracian Plain, spanning a territory of 694 km<sup>2</sup> between Pazardzhik and Plovdiv, including 100 km<sup>2</sup> rice paddy fields.<ref name="bsbd"/><ref name="econ"/><ref>{{cite web |url= https://btvnovinite.bg/bulgaria/bez-vodata-ot-jazovir-topolnica-golemite-orizishta-v-pazardzhishko-i-plovdivsko-zagivat.html|title= Without the Water of the Topolnitsa Reservoir the Large Rice Paddy Fields in Pazardzhik and Plovdiv will Die Out|website=Official Site of BTV |access-date=24 April 2025}}</ref> There is a small hydro power plant built in its dam wall with a capacity of 9 MW.<ref name="Geographic Dictionary of Bulgaria 496"/><ref name="bsbd"/>
== Citations == {{Reflist|2}}
== References == * {{cite book | ref={{harvid|Geographic Dictionary of Bulgaria|1980}} | title = Географски речник на България | trans-title = Geographic Dictionary of Bulgaria | last1 = Мичев (Michev) | first1 = Николай (Nikolay) | last2 = Михайлов (Mihaylov) | first2 = Цветко (Tsvetko) | last3 = Вапцаров (Vaptsarov) | first3 = Иван (Ivan) | last4 = Кираджиев (Kiradzhiev) | first4 = Светлин (Svetlin) | chapter = | year = 1980 | language = Bulgarian | publisher = Наука и култура (Nauka i kultura) | location = София (Sofia) | isbn = }} {{Panagyurishte Municipality}} Category:Reservoirs in Bulgaria Category:Landforms of Pazardzhik Province Category:Landforms of Sofia Province