Nohurqışlaq Su Anbarı

Nohur Lake or Nohurqışlaq water reservoir — located 3 km east of the city of Qəbələ, 1 km north of the village of Nohurqışlaq, in a natural hollow between the mountains Güllüburun, Göydağ and Yumuru, at an altitude of 700 m above sea level. Until 1949 the Nohur lake existed as a natural lake, its surroundings covered with dense reeds and water plants forming a swamp, and in the deep hollow in the central part there was a lake with yellow‑green water. In 1949, in the southern part of this lake — between Güllüburun mountain and Yumuru mountain — an earthen dam 850 m long, 8–10 m high and 4–6 m wide was built, creating a water reservoir. The reservoir now has a length of 1925 m, a width of 1355 m, an area of 240 hectares. Its maximum depth reaches 24 m and its water volume is 16 million m³.

The waters of the Dəmiraparan (70%) and Vəndam (30%) rivers flow into the Nohurqışlaq water reservoir. In addition to regulating the waters of these rivers, the Nohurqışlaq water reservoir is of great importance because it meets the water demand of the farms of Qəbələ, Ağdaş, Göyçay and Ucar districts. Moreover, being located in a densely populated area beside the Qəbələ‑İsmayıllı – Baku highway, this water body is one of the most popular recreation zones for the local population, tourists and guests. The Nohurqışlaq water reservoir is also of great significance for the development of lake fishing (aquaculture) and sports (water skiing). Currently, recreation zones operate on the northern, southwestern and eastern shores of the reservoir.

Sometimes in the harsh winter months the surface of Nohur Lake freezes completely. In the winter of 1953 the thickness of the ice cover on the lake surface reached 40–50 cm. The population of the nearby village Nohurqışlaq used this by moving across it with human force and the power of machinery, carrying firewood and building materials from the sky mountain north of the lake. The situation of the surface of the Nohurqışlaq water reservoir being completely covered with ice was repeated in the winter of 2007–2008.

The legend of “Nohur Lake”

Rashid bey Efendiyev collected and published the “Nohur Lake” legend. The legend says that from beneath a lake near Qabala the sounds of people, cows, and sheep are heard. Supposedly there was once a village here, which later collapsed into the ground and a lake formed on its site. The example later shows that because one of the villagers was close to his daughter, such a disaster befell the village. Therefore the people named it Nohur Lake. This legend, which imparts important moral value and educational ideas, also explains the meaning of the place name formed in popular thought. In another version of the legend the story is about the king’s daughter Nohur and the poor family life of Demirçioğlu, who loves her. Always wearing a boy’s clothing and fighting, Nohur awaits his future fate with the thought “whoever defeats me, I will go to them.” Finally, he meets Demirçioğlu and fights. After Demirçioğlu learns that the person he fought is Nohur, he realizes he has found his beloved. However, the girl’s father opposes this love, sends his men and has Demirçioğlu’s head cut off. This tragic event shakes the girl and the legend ends: a great lake forms from the tears flowing from Nohur’s eyes. The girl drowns in her own tears. “People cannot forget this pure love; they name the lake formed from the tears ‘Nohur’.”