Blue water
Exceptionally clear.
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A clear mountain lake at about 1,550 metres at the foot of Mount Murovdag in the Lesser Caucasus, south of Ganja, whose name means «blue lake». It is the heart of Göygöl National Park, the most visited national park in Azerbaijan. The lake formed after an earthquake struck the area in September 1139, when part of Mount Kapaz collapsed and blocked the Kurakchay river, so water gathered in the valley. It is about 2,800 metres long and more than ninety metres deep, and its water is so clear that underwater life can be seen several metres down; a distinct trout lives in it. The national park around it was created in 2008 from a reserve dating back to 1925, covered with oak, beech and maple forests, with smaller lakes such as Maralgöl nearby and the rocky summit of Kapaz above. Walking trails run between the forests and lakes. Entry to the park may require a fee at the gate, so check locally. The road from Ganja is mountainous, about an hour by car, and park rules usually do not allow swimming in the lake, so enjoy it on foot and through your camera.
Exceptionally clear.
Towering above.
Walking trails.
Göygöl National Park, at the foot of Mount Murovdag, about fifty kilometres south of Ganja
In an earthquake in 1139, when part of Mount Kapaz collapsed and blocked the Kurakchay river, so the water gathered into a lake.