| Shamkir reservoir | |
| Pushpin Map: | Azerbaijan |
| Location: | Shamkir Rayon, Azerbaijan |
| Type: | reservoir |
| Inflow: | Kura River |
| Outflow: | Kura River |
| Basin Countries: | Azerbaijan |
| Length: | 4.5km (02.8miles) |
| Area: | 116sqkm |
| Depth: | 18.2m (59.7feet) |
| Volume: | 2677e6m3 |
The Shamkir reservoir (Azerbaijani: Şəmkir su anbarı) is a large reservoir built on the Kura River in the Shamkir Rayon of northwestern Azerbaijan. It is thesecond-largest reservoir in the Caucasus after the Mingachevir reservoir.[1]
The Shamkir reservoir was built on the Shamkir section of the Kura River in 1982. The area of the Shamkir reservoir is 116sqkm.[2] [3] The overall volume of the reservoir is 2,677 million m3 and the exploited volume of water is 1,425 million m3. The normal water level of the reservoir is 158m (518feet) and the surface area is 115sqkm. Its dam top length is 4500m (14,800feet) and height is 70m (230feet). The reservoir provides irrigation water to 46000ha of land in Shamkir, Samukh, Goygol and Goranboy rayons.A 380 megawatt hydroelectric power station with 2 turbines is a part of the reservoir complex.[4] [5]
A new reservoir in Shamkir Rayon was completed in 2014 by the Azerbaijani government on the Shamkirchay river.[6] The main purpose of the new reservoir is to provide irrigation water to Shamkir, Samukh Goygol and Goranboy rayons. The project was initiated by the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, in 2009 at a cost of $400 million. The construction of the reservoir and dam was to last three years. Over 50 pieces of heavy machinery and 240 laborers are currently involved in construction. According to experts, about 50000ha of land will be irrigated with the water from the new reservoir. The reservoir will have a volume capacity of 160 million m3 and an average water flow of 260 million m3, and will also provide more drinking water to the city of Shamkir. The maximum length at the new reservoir will be 122m (400feet). The top length of the dam will be 692m (2,270feet), width - 12m (39feet). Over 85,000 m3 of concrete and 7,000 metal structures and fittings will be used for construction of the dam.[7] Also, a 36 megawatt hydroelectric power station will be built at the reservoir.[8] The annual energy production of the station will be 56 million kWh. The construction is being carried out by a Turkish company.