Zeid reservoir, artificial reservoir in Turkmenistan
Zeid Reservoir is a large water storage body in Lebap in eastern Turkmenistan with a surface area of around 465 square kilometers. The earth dam is about 17 meters tall and extends for approximately 18 kilometers, storing roughly 2.2 billion liters of water, with about 2 billion liters actively used for irrigation.
The reservoir was put into operation in 1963 and has been a key part of the region's water management system ever since. It was designed to store and control water from the Karakum Canal system to support agricultural development across Turkmenistan.
The reservoir is part of everyday life for local communities and is primarily used for watering crops during the farming season. This dependence on the water source shapes how people work and live in the region.
The best access to the reservoir is from the dam side where you can see the structure and water surface clearly. The flat and open landscape around the site is easy to walk through, but visitors should prepare for dry heat, especially during warmer months.
The reservoir is also known as the 15 Years of Independence, a name celebrating Turkmenistan's separation from the Soviet Union. This alternative name shows how infrastructure projects became linked to national symbols and milestones.
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