Lake Çıldır

41°02′33″N 43°15′19″E / 41.0425°N 43.2552778°E / 41.0425; 43.2552778TypeFreshwaterBasin countriesTurkeySurface area123.00 km² (47.49 sq mi)Max. depth15 m (49 ft)Surface elevation1,959 m (6,427 ft)

Lake Çıldır (Turkish: Çıldır Gölü;; Georgian: ჩრდილი, ჩრდილის ტბა, Črdilis tba, meaning "lake of shadows", Armenian: Ծովակ Հիւսիսոյ, Tsovak Hyusiso, meaning "small sea of the north", Armenian: Պաղկացի լիճ, Paghkatsi lich, meaning "cold lake"), is a large freshwater lake in the provinces of Ardahan and Kars in northeastern Turkey. It is located close to the borders with Georgia and Armenia. Lake Çıldır is located at an elevation of approximately 1,959 m (6,427 ft) and is surrounded by a mountainous region. It has an area of 123 km² (47 sq mi) and a maximum depth of about 42 m (138 ft). Water from the lake is used for irrigation.^[1] The lake freezes over in the winter.

The area around the lake is primarily used for livestock farming, with little vegetation present and absence of agriculture due to harsh conditions.^[2]

History

Its south shore may have been the location of the Etiuni, a tribal confederation frequently mentioned in the records of Urartu.^[3]

The lake has an island near the shores of the village of Akçakale, where archaeological remains are preserved. ^[4]

Gallery

• 
  An horse in lake Çıldır
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  Landscape near lake Çıldır
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  Equestrian sled in lake Çıldır
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  Plants near lake Çıldır

References

Natural lakesArtificial lakes