Lake Ezerische

Lake Ezerische
Возера Езярышча (Belarusian)
Location of the lake in Belarus.
Location of the lake in Belarus.
Lake Ezerische
LocationHaradok District, Vitebsk Region, Belarus
Coordinates55°51′N 30°01′E / 55.850°N 30.017°E / 55.850; 30.017
TypeReservoir

Lake Ezerische (Belarusian: возера Езярышча, romanizedvozera Jeziaryšča; Russian: озеро Езерище, romanizedozero Yzerishche) is a lake in Haradok District, Vitebsk Region, Belarus. It is situated at the Belarus–Russia border, neighboring Pskov Oblast in Russia.

In 1959, on the river flowing out of the lake, a hydroelectric power plant was built. This led to the raising of the water level (as the lake began to function as a reservoir). Raising the water level leads to erosion of its banks. The lake is dated to the glacial period and is about 10,000 years. The largest settlement on the bank of the lake is Yezyaryshcha (Ezerische), a settlement located on the western shore of the lake. Ezerishche Castle is situated on one of the islands. In the present day, only ramparts of the castle are preserved.