Ariana Lake

Ariana is the name of a medium-sized artificial lake in Sofia, Bulgaria’s Knyaz Boris’ Garden. It is “B” shaped, 175 meters long and 75 meters broad, with a little island at its narrowest point. It is situated in the city center, between the Eagles’ Bridge and the national stadium, in the park’s northernmost corner.

The lake was built in the late 1800s and has since become a popular spot for Sofianites to take leisurely walks. Water wheels and rowing boats have been a feature, and it has been known to freeze over and have people ice skate on its surface in the winter.

A casino was erected on the island in the mid-twentieth century. The local authority stopped caring for the lake in the early 1990s, and it dried up and sat empty and unused for about two decades. In 2007, the lake and its surroundings were refurbished and reopened as a recreational area.

The lake was named after the brewery, which was situated a few hundred yards to the north and was destroyed in 2004.