LAKES AND RESERVOIRS

Azerbaijan has a total of nearly 250 lakes. Most of them are small, while Hadjigabul, Sarysu, Masazyr, Djandargol and others are relatively large. The lakes of the middle and high mountain areas (Goygol and Maralgol of the Kurekchay Basin, Major and Minor Alagoller of the Shamkir River Basin) are extremely aesthetically pleasing. The lakes of Azerbaijan have erosion-glacial, erosion-river, tectonic and abrasive origins. There is a number of standing and salt relict lakes in the Absheron peninsula. In the summer, most of the lakes dry up and become saline. Mountain lakes are used for the purposes of cattle watering, irrigation, fishing (Hadjikabul, Sarysu, Aggol and others), while the salt water lakes of the Absheron peninsula are used for the production of chemical agents as well as for medical treatment. The lakes of the upland stream of rivers: the Bababat group of lakes, Ganlygol (the Nakhchivan River Basin), Goygol (the Shemkir River Basin) and others have turned into water reservoirs. They supply additional volumes of water to rivers in the summertime.

Reservoirs

Over 60 water reservoirs have been constructed in order to regulate the river flow in Azerbaijan. The formation of these reservoirs is one of the measures that has been undertaken in order to ration the utilization of water and energy resources. The largest water reservoirs (Mingechevr, Shemkir, Araz and Serseng Reservoirs) are designed to be utilized for various purposes, while most other ponds are used exclusively for irrigation.

Glaciers

Azerbaijan has several glaciers within its territory. They mainly span the Bazarduzu (with an area of 3.62 sq.km.), Bazaryurd (1 sq.km), Tufan (0.51 sq.km) and Shahdag (1.08 sq.km) peaks of the Major Caucasus Mountains. One can also come across other areas of eternal ice that can be found at a height of 4,000 meters above sea level.