Lake Burgas

42°30′N 27°24′E / 42.500°N 27.400°E / 42.500; 27.400TypeBrackishwaterBasin countriesBulgariaMax. length9.6 km (6.0 mi)Max. width5 km (3.1 mi)Surface area27.60 km² (10.66 sq mi)Max. depth34 m (112 ft)Official nameVaya LakeDesignated11 November 2002Reference no.1230^[1]

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 34 m deep.

The lake's waters contain relatively little salt (about 4-11‰). Lake Burgas is inhabited by a wide variety of species, including 23 fish, 60 invertebrates 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.

References

• Michev, Nikolay; Tsvetko Mihaylov; Ivan Vaptsarov; Svetlin Kiradzhiev (1989). Geographical dictionary of Bulgaria. Sofia: Nauka i izkustvo.