Kopetdag Reservoir

The Kopetdag Reservoir is an artificial lake in the foothills of the central Kopetdag range in Turkmenistan's Ahal region, roughly 40 kilometers northwest of Ashgabat and close to the town of Gokdepe. Built and put into operation in 1976, it covers an area of about 38 to 39 square kilometers with some 42 kilometers of shoreline and is held back by a 25-meter dam on its northern side. The northern and western parts of the reservoir reach depths of up to 20 meters, while the southern shore slopes gently and stays shallow. Water is supplied mainly through the Karakum Canal, typically arriving from early autumn, with levels dropping again by midsummer. Because of the large numbers of waterfowl it attracts, the reservoir has been recognized by BirdLife International as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area; more than 200 bird species have been recorded there, making it one of the more significant wetland habitats in the Turkmen lowlands.