Kapchagay Reservoir, Hydroelectric reservoir in Almaty Region, Kazakhstan
Kapchagay Reservoir is a large artificial water body in the Almaty Region of Kazakhstan, formed by blocking a section of the former river valley. The surface extends from shallow sandy shores to areas where the water runs deep and calm.
The structure came into being in the late 1960s when Soviet authorities built a dam to harness river power for regional industry. Blocking the river gradually created a wide sheet of water that covered several former riverbeds.
The water body takes its name from the dam that holds it back, supplying drinking water and electricity to small settlements along its banks. Fishermen set out early in the morning with nets and return around midday, selling their catch at local markets.
The shoreline can be reached by road from the nearby city, where parking areas and basic facilities are available. In summer the site suits day trips with opportunities for swimming, while in winter the wind sweeps across the open water.
Damming the river caused the groundwater table around it to shift, forcing several villages to abandon their sites. Today only scattered foundations along the waterline recall the former settlements now beneath the surface.
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