Копетдазьке водосховище, stuwmeer in Turkmenistan
Kopetdag Reservoir is a large water storage lake in the Ahal region of southern Turkmenistan, positioned near the Kopetdag mountain range. The dam stands about 25 meters high and controls water flow, while channels feed water from the foothills into the basin for agricultural use.
The reservoir was built in the late 20th century as part of a large irrigation initiative, beginning to fill with water in 1973. It forms part of an extensive water system that stretches for several hundred kilometers and transformed agriculture across the region.
The reservoir is deeply connected to the farming community, as local agriculture depends on its water for irrigation and crop production. This reliance shapes how people in the region live and work, making it a practical center of rural life.
The location is easily accessible from the nearby city of Geok-Tepe, with a road running along the canal and waterside. You can visit during any season, though water levels fluctuate depending on rainfall and irrigation demands throughout the year.
The water has remarkable clarity, allowing visibility up to 4 meters down on clear days, which is unusual for reservoirs in this region. The lake is home to about 32 fish species, including some that arrived later and adapted to the freshwater environment over time.
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