Lakes of Azerbaijan: From the Caspian to Goygol

Azerbaijan can rightly be called a country of lakes. Its eastern border is washed by the largest lake on the planet — the Caspian Sea. Despite its name, the Caspian is scientifically a lake, although its size is really like a sea.

Millions of years ago, the Caspian was part of the world's ocean. But over time, because of changes in the Earth's crust, it became separated from the ocean. Today, it forms a closed ecosystem together with the Aral Sea, which is also a lake despite its name. These two bodies of water are connected by underground water flows and create a unique natural system.

However, Azerbaijan is famous not only for the Caspian Sea. The lakes of Azerbaijan are also an important part of the country's nature. The Absheron Peninsula, where the capital city Baku is located, is full of salt lakes. According to one theory, the name "Absheron" comes from the Persian words "ab" and "shoran", which mean "salt water". This makes sense because there are about one hundred salt lakes in this area, and some of them are used for salt production.

As for the freshwater lakes of Azerbaijan, most of them are located in beautiful mountain areas. In the foothills of the Lesser Caucasus, near Ganja, there is the beautiful Lake Goygol with very clear water. During the "Shamakhi-Gabala" tour, you can also visit Lake Nohur. It is a real treasure of the Gabala region and is surrounded by the mountains of the Greater Caucasus.

Besides natural lakes, Azerbaijan also has artificial lakes and reservoirs. The largest one is the Mingachevir Reservoir, which local people often call "the sea". To the north of the capital, on the way to Quba, there is the Jeyranbatan Reservoir. It is another example of how important water infrastructure is for the country.

For centuries, water has been a very important resource for the peoples of the Middle East. The freshwater lakes of Azerbaijan are not only beautiful natural places, but also an important source of life. The salt lakes of Absheron are a symbol of the local character: strong, rich and full of a special taste.