Kartsakhi Lake

(Redirected from Lake Aktaş)

Kartsakhi Lake (Georgian: კარწახის ტბა, karts'akhis tba), or Lake Khozapini (Georgian: ხოზაფინის ტბა, khozap'inis tba; Turkish: Hazapin Gölü), or Lake Aktaş (Turkish: Aktaş Gölü), is a soda lake in the Caucasus Mountains. It straddles the international border between Georgia (53%) and Turkey (47%). The village of Kartsakhi lies near the lake's northeastern shore.

Kartsakhi Lake
Kartsakhi lake and shoreline
View of the lake from the Georgian side
A map of the Samtskhe-Javakheti region of Georgia with a map indicating the location of Kartsakhi Lake
A map of the Samtskhe-Javakheti region of Georgia with a map indicating the location of Kartsakhi Lake
Kartsakhi Lake
A map of the Samtskhe-Javakheti region of Georgia with a map indicating the location of Kartsakhi Lake
A map of the Samtskhe-Javakheti region of Georgia with a map indicating the location of Kartsakhi Lake
Kartsakhi Lake
A map of the Samtskhe-Javakheti region of Georgia with a map indicating the location of Kartsakhi Lake
A map of the Samtskhe-Javakheti region of Georgia with a map indicating the location of Kartsakhi Lake
Kartsakhi Lake
Coordinates41°12′54″N 43°13′16″E / 41.21500°N 43.22111°E / 41.21500; 43.22111
Catchment area158 km2 (61 sq mi)
Basin countriesGeorgia, Turkey
Surface area26.3 km2 (10.2 sq mi)
Max. depth1 m (3 ft 3 in)
Water volume19.3 km3 (4.6 cu mi)
Salinity880 ‰
Surface elevation1,800 m (5,900 ft)
Map

It is the second largest lake in Georgia, covering an area of 26.3 or 26.6 square kilometers at an altitude of 1799 m.[1][2] It is fed by a number of creeks. During the rainy season, its excess water discharges into the Kura River.[3]

Fauna edit

It is an important bird habitat; it holds one of the largest populations of the Eurasian eagle-owl in the country, along with populations of the Dalmatian pelican and great white pelican.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ Hlavinek, Petr (2008). Dangerous pollutants (xenobiotics) in urban waters cycle. Springer. p. 37. ISBN 978-1-4020-6800-3. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
  2. ^ Prokhorov, Aleksandr Mikhaĭlovich (1982). Great Soviet encyclopedia. Macmillan. p. 195. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
  3. ^ Wetland page (in Turkish)
  4. ^ Evans, M. I.; Heath, Melanie F.; International, BirdLife (2000). Important bird areas in Europe: priority sites for conservation. BirdLife International. p. 255. ISBN 978-0-946888-35-1. Retrieved 6 October 2011.