Shemkir reservoir
Encyclopedia
The Shamkir reservoir is a large lake
in the Shamkir Rayon of northwestern Azerbaijan
. It is the
second largest reservoir in the Caucasus
after the Mingachevir reservoir
.
in 1982. The area of the Shamkir reservoir is 116 sqkm. The overall volume of the reservoir is 2,677 million m3 and the exploited volume of water is 1,425 million m3. The normal water level of the reservoir is 158 m (518.4 ft) and the surface area is 115 sqkm. Its dam top length is 4500 m (14,763.8 ft) and altitude is 70 m (229.7 ft). The reservoir provides irrigation water to 46000 ha (113,668.4 acre) of land in Shamkir, Samukh, Goygol and Goranboy raion
s.
A 380 megawatt hydroelectric power station with 2 turbines is a part of the reservoir complex.
river. The main purpose of the new reservoir is to provide irrigation water to Shamkir, Samukh Goygol and Goranboy raion
s. The project was initiated by the President of Azerbaijan
, Ilham Aliyev
, in 2009 and will cost $400 million. The construction of the reservoir and dam
will last three years. Over 50 pieces of heavy machinery and 240 laborers are currently involved in construction. According to experts, about 50000 ha (123,552.6 acre) of land will be irrigated with the water from new reservoir. The reservoir will have a volume capacity of 160 million m3 and an average water flow of 260 million m3, and will also provide more drinking water to the city of Shamkir
. The maximum length at the new reservoir will be 122 m (400.3 ft). The top length of the dam will be 692 m (2,270.3 ft), width - 12 m (39.4 ft). Over 85,000 m3 of concrete and 7,000 metal structures and fittings will be used for construction of the dam. Also, a 36 megawatt hydroelectric power station will be built at the reservoir. The annual energy production of the station will be 56 million kW/h. The construction is being carried out by a Turkish company.
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
in the Shamkir Rayon of northwestern Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
. It is the
second largest reservoir in the Caucasus
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
after the Mingachevir reservoir
Mingachevir reservoir
The Mingachevir reservoir is a large lake in northwestern Azerbaijan. It is the largest reservoir in the Caucasus.-Overview:The reservoir was built on a section of Kura River flowing through Mount Bozdağ in 1953. The filling capacity of the reservoir is whereas the volume is 15730 mln m³...
.
Overview
The Shamkir reservoir was built on the Shamkir section of the Kura RiverKura River
Kura is a river, also known from the Greek as the Cyrus in the Caucasus Mountains. Starting in north-eastern Turkey, it flows through Turkey to Georgia, then to Azerbaijan, where it receives the Aras River as a right tributary, and enters the Caspian Sea...
in 1982. The area of the Shamkir reservoir is 116 sqkm. The overall volume of the reservoir is 2,677 million m3 and the exploited volume of water is 1,425 million m3. The normal water level of the reservoir is 158 m (518.4 ft) and the surface area is 115 sqkm. Its dam top length is 4500 m (14,763.8 ft) and altitude is 70 m (229.7 ft). The reservoir provides irrigation water to 46000 ha (113,668.4 acre) of land in Shamkir, Samukh, Goygol and Goranboy raion
Raion
A raion is a type of administrative unit of several post-Soviet countries. The term, which is from French rayon 'honeycomb, department,' describes both a type of a subnational entity and a division of a city, and is commonly translated in English as "district"...
s.
A 380 megawatt hydroelectric power station with 2 turbines is a part of the reservoir complex.
New Shamkir reservoir
A new reservoir in Shamkir Rayon is being built by the Azerbaijani government on the ShamkirchayShamkirchay
Shamkirchay is one of the tributaries of the Kura River located in northwestern part of Republic of Azerbaijan.-Overview:It starts in Gadabay district and ends in Shamkir. The government is building a water navigation tunnel on the river for irrigation purposes which will be long....
river. The main purpose of the new reservoir is to provide irrigation water to Shamkir, Samukh Goygol and Goranboy raion
Raion
A raion is a type of administrative unit of several post-Soviet countries. The term, which is from French rayon 'honeycomb, department,' describes both a type of a subnational entity and a division of a city, and is commonly translated in English as "district"...
s. The project was initiated by the President of Azerbaijan
President of Azerbaijan
The country of Azerbaijan is a presidential republic, with the President of Azerbaijan as the head of state, and the Prime Minister of Azerbaijan as head of government...
, Ilham Aliyev
Ilham Aliyev
Ilham Heydar oglu Aliyev is the President of Azerbaijan since 2003. He also functions as the Chairman of the New Azerbaijan Party and the head of the National Olympic Committee...
, in 2009 and will cost $400 million. The construction of the reservoir and dam
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
will last three years. Over 50 pieces of heavy machinery and 240 laborers are currently involved in construction. According to experts, about 50000 ha (123,552.6 acre) of land will be irrigated with the water from new reservoir. The reservoir will have a volume capacity of 160 million m3 and an average water flow of 260 million m3, and will also provide more drinking water to the city of Shamkir
Shamkir
Shamkir is a rayon in Azerbaijan. It is located in the northwestern part of the Azerbaijan Republic. The rayon was previously called "Shamkhor" during the Soviet rule and was renamed to Shamkir only in 1991 after restoration of independence of Azerbaijan. The district was established in 1930...
. The maximum length at the new reservoir will be 122 m (400.3 ft). The top length of the dam will be 692 m (2,270.3 ft), width - 12 m (39.4 ft). Over 85,000 m3 of concrete and 7,000 metal structures and fittings will be used for construction of the dam. Also, a 36 megawatt hydroelectric power station will be built at the reservoir. The annual energy production of the station will be 56 million kW/h. The construction is being carried out by a Turkish company.