Ticha Reservoir

Ticha Reservoir
Location Varbitsa Municipality, Shumen Province, Bulgaria
Coordinates 43°2′37″N 26°45′4″E / 43.04361°N 26.75111°ECoordinates: 43°2′37″N 26°45′4″E / 43.04361°N 26.75111°E
Type reservoir
Primary inflows Golyama Kamchia
Primary outflows Golyama Kamchia
Basin countries Bulgaria
Max. length 14 km <plus second arm>
Max. width 1 km
Surface area 1870 ha
Max. depth 40 m <from differences in level>
Water volume 311.800 hm³
Surface elevation 185 m

Ticha Reservoir (Bulgarian: язовир Тича, yazovir Ticha) is a reservoir in Varbitsa Municipality, Shumen Province, northeastern Bulgaria, located to the north and northeast of the town of Varbitsa. It is one of the largest lakes of Bulgaria. The Ticha Dam is located in the northeastern part of the reservoir, in the southeastern part of Kotel Mountain.[1]

The reservoir lies along the Golyama Kamchia River, one of the two rivers that merge to form the Kamchia.[2] Before entering the reservoir, the river gathers waters from the hilly Gerlovo region.[3] The name of the reservoir is derived from the medieval name of the Kamchia: the Ticha.[2][4]

According to some measurements, it is the third-largest reservoir in Bulgaria.[5] By design, the Ticha Reservoir is used mainly for irrigation;[6] the total area which the reservoir can irrigate is 32,918 hectares (329.18 km2).[7] The Ticha Reservoir's total volume amounts to 311,800,000 m3 (1.101×1010 cu ft).[8] The construction of the reservoir meant that two villages, Vinitsa and Staroselka, were depopulated and flooded; their commons now lie within the reservoir.[3]

The dam overflowed in July 2005 and July 2010, threatening the surrounding villages and land. Due to this, the water level of the reservoir is closely monitored and dykes have been built.[5] Unlike the 2005 flood, which caused significant damage in the village of Byal Bryag, the 2010 overflow did not lead to floods in the neighbouring populated places.[9]

In February 2010, the tap water in Shumen, which comes from the Ticha Reservoir, was declared unsuitable for drinking as a result of the presence of E. coli strains.[10]

References

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  1. ↑ "Important Bird Areas: Kotlenska Mountain". Birds in Bulgaria. Retrieved 19 January 201. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "КАМЧИЯ (в древността: Панисус, през средновековието: Тича)". Българска енциклопедия А-Я (in Bulgarian). БАН, Труд, Сирма. 2002. ISBN 954-8104-08-3.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "ДЛС Преслав" (in Bulgarian). Регионална дирекция по горите Шумен. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  4. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Язовир "Тича" прелива" (in Bulgarian). bTV. 2010-07-11. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  5. ↑ Knight, C. Gregory; Raev, Ivan; Staneva, Marieta P. (2004). Drought in Bulgaria: a contemporary analog for climate change. Ashgate Publishing. p. 103. ISBN 978-0-7546-4215-2.
  6. ↑ "НАПОИТЕЛНИ СИСТЕМИ ЕАД — клон Шумен" (in Bulgarian). НАПОИТЕЛНИ СИСТЕМИ ЕАД. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  7. ↑ "Язовир "Тича" прелива, няма опасност за населението". Дневник (in Bulgarian) (Икономедиа). 2010-07-12. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  8. ↑ "Водата в Шумен е негодна за пиене". Дневник (in Bulgarian) (Икономедиа). Retrieved 19 January 2011.