Lake Burgas

Lake Burgas
Location Bulgarian Black Sea Coast
Group Burgas Lakes
Coordinates 42°30′N 27°24′E / 42.500°N 27.400°ECoordinates: 42°30′N 27°24′E / 42.500°N 27.400°E
Type Brackishwater
Basin countries Bulgaria
Max. length 9.6 km
Max. width 5 km
Surface area 27.60 km²
Max. depth 103 ft

Lake Burgas (Bulgarian: Бургаско езеро, Burgasko ezero) or Lake Vaya (езеро Вая, ezero Vaya), located near the Black Sea west of the city of Burgas, is the largest natural lake in Bulgaria, with an area of 27.60 km², a length of 9.6 km and a width of 2.5 to 5 km. It is up to 103 feet deep.

The lake's waters contain relatively little salt (about 4-11‰). Lake Burgas is inhabited by a wide variety of species, including 23 of fish, 60 invertebrate and 254 bird species (of which 61 are endangered in Bulgaria and 9 in the world).

An important fish-producing reservoir in the past, Lake Burgas lost much of its economic importance after the construction of the petrochemical plant near the city, but has witnessed an increasing number of species and decreasing pollution in recent years.

The Neftochim refinery seen from the other shore of the lake

References