Data Zone
Country/territory: Bulgaria
IBA criteria met: A1, A4i, A4iii, B1i, C1, C2, C3, C4 (2005)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 4,304 hectares (43.04 km2)
Site description (2000 baseline)
A dam on the Ovtcharitza river, surrounded by low hills with arable land (mainly winter wheat). The reservoir is used for cooling an electric power-station at the site (`Other' land-use, below), and therefore the water does not freeze in winter. Human activities include hunting, fishing and irrigation.
Key biodiversity
Important in winter for fish-eating birds (Phalacrocorax spp., Pelecanus crispus) and for Anser albifrons. The site holds 20,000 or more waterbirds on a regular basis.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Ovtcharitsa Reservoir (Bulgaria). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/ovtcharitsa-reservoir-iba-bulgaria on 23/12/2024.