Bakht lake

Other meanings of this term also exist. See: Baxt (meanings)

Baxt (Baxt Lake) — an artificial lake filled with waters of the Chirchiq River in the Bektemir district of Tashkent city.

It serves as a recreation area, and its water reservoir has the status of a park lake.

Description

Baxt Lake occupies an area of 27 hectares. The lake’s corners have a flattened rectangular triangular shape and extend from southwest to northeast. Its length is 900 m, width 300 m, depth up to 10.0 m. In addition to the main water reservoir, two small lakes are located nearby.

Baxt is located in the southeastern outskirts of Tashkent, in the Bektemir district. Its waters are on the right bank of the Chirchiq River that fills it. On the left bank of the Chirchiq there is Rohat Lake. The Oxangaron gorge passes to the west of the lake.

History

Although Baht and Rohat are of artificial origin, they are usually called lakes. Both water reservoirs were created in 1973–1975 when a decision was made to organize a recreation area for workers of the Hamza region on the Chirchiq bank.

As a water reservoir, the sites of gravel and sand extraction served as quarries. The area acquired the status of a cultural and leisure park (now it has the status of a park lake). During the Soviet period Baht and Rohat were popular among the city’s residents. A tram line was built along the Oxangaron gorge, and bus routes to the lakes were organized.

In the 21st century visits to Baht Lake decreased, and this lake did not attract the affluent layers of the population for swimming. The recreation area became polluted with domestic waste and was in an unusable condition. For sanitary‑hygienic reasons, the water reservoir was drained in 2013–2014.

In November 2014, the governor of Bektemir district, Sarvar Maxametov, announced that a large water complex project is being prepared on the site of the old lake, to be built before the next swimming season.

From the middle of June 2016, the “Baxt Lake” recreation area, which had been closed in recent years in Tashkent, began operating. According to the administration, up to 5,000 guests can relax there at the same time.