In the 1980's the "Greben Kanal" - Rowing Lake - was built at the western edge of the city of Plovdiv near the Maritsa River, and Sport Complex Plovdiv stretches alongside the canal in a park near the Plovdiv Zoo. It is one of the best rowing canals in the world.

This state-of-the-art facility for water sports is encircled by a wide, asphalt-paved track 5 kilometers long. It has been the host of many international competitions in rowing and kayak. It is also a popular place for biking, fishing and recreation.

The rowing channel is 2,280 m long and 125 m wide with an open water surface area of 255,000 square meters and a depth of 3-meters.

Its adjoining grounds include athletic fields, tennis courts and swimming pool and covers 52,900 square meters. There are a run-off complex, judicial tower, spectators’ tribunes, 14 modern boathouses and many other subsidiary sport facilities.

A foot-bridge constructed across the canal has a central span of 150 m, a thickness of 32 cm.