| Lake Amtkeli | |||||
| Location: | Gulripshi District | ||||
| Pushpin Map: | Abkhazia#Georgia | ||||
| Lake Type: | Glacial lake | ||||
| Inflow: | Amtkeli | ||||
| Outflow: | Jampali (through sinkholes) Amtkeli | ||||
| Catchment: | 1530NaN0 | ||||
| Basin Countries: | Georgia, (Abkhazia) | ||||
| Date-Built: | 3 October 1891 | ||||
| Length: | 2.4km (01.5miles) | ||||
| Area: | 0.582NaN2 | ||||
| Max-Depth: | 650NaN0 | ||||
| Elevation: | 5120NaN0 | ||||
| Frozen: | very rarely | ||||
| Cities: | Azanta | ||||
| Embedded: |
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Lake Amtkeli or Amtkel[1] (Georgian: ამტყელის ტბა; Abkhazian: Амтҟьал) is a lake in the Gulripshi District of Abkhazia, Georgia that was formed on 3 October 1891 when an earthquake caused a landslide on the south-western slope of Mt. little Shkhapach into the valley of the Amtkeli River.[2] [3] [4]
Lake Amtkeli is fed by the Amtkeli River, but only a small part of its water percolates through the obstructing rubble back into the river. The greater part leaves the lake through underground passages to the Jampali River. Due to the lake's limited discharge capacity, its water level rises strongly during snowmelt in May, leading to annual fluctuations of up to 400NaN0 in the lake's average 5120NaN0 height above sea level and 650NaN0 maximal depth, and increasing its length from 2.41NaN1 to 41NaN1. The average surface area of Lake Amtkeli is 0.582NaN2, and its drainage basin measures 1530NaN0.
Due to the lake's origin, its underwater slopes are steep, following the surface slopes.[3]
Lake Amtkeli is home to trout, chub, nase, barbel and spirlin.
In July and August, the lake's average surface temperature is 200NaN0, in Winter it rarely freezes over.[3]
The village of Azanta is located next to lake Amtkeli, and some of its inhabitants keep fishing boats on its shore.[3]