Tsalka Reservoir, Artificial reservoir in Kvemo Kartli, Georgia.
Tsalka Reservoir is an artificial water body created by a concrete dam spanning the Khrami River gorge. Steep rocky banks surround the water, which reaches depths of approximately 25 meters at its deepest point.
Construction of the concrete dam began in 1946, and the resulting flooded areas submerged a medieval settlement dating from the 10th-11th centuries. This ancient site disappeared beneath the water and remains there today.
Local fishing communities practice their craft on these waters, catching carp, eels, and other species that thrive in the reservoir. This activity connects people to the landscape in a way that has endured through generations.
Water temperatures change dramatically with the seasons, dropping near freezing in winter and warming to around 18°C in summer. Ice may form on the surface during the colder months, which affects how you can use the reservoir.
When water levels drop seasonally, traces of the submerged medieval village occasionally emerge from the reservoir. These rare glimpses reveal fragments of buildings and structures from centuries past.
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