The blue water
Between hills and mountains.
Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin FRCP(Glasg) — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin FRCP(Glasg) — CC BY-SA 4.0 · User:Zirguezi — Public domain · Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin FRCP(Glasg) — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin FRCP(Glasg) — CC BY-SA 4.0
Lake Dukan is a large reservoir on the Little Zab, in Sulaymaniyah Governorate in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, near the city of Ranya. Hills and mountains surround it, combining blue water with rugged land. It is among the most popular places for outings in the region, above all in the mild weather of spring. The lake formed after the Dukan Dam was built between 1954 and 1959 for water storage, irrigation and hydroelectricity. Before the area flooded, archaeologists documented some 40 sites on the Ranya Plain, including Tell Shemshara. The people of some 50 villages, around 1,000 to 1,200 families, were resettled to the west of the lake. You see water stretching between hills, views of the dam from the water, and small resorts and picnic spots along the shores. A boat ride may be possible in places when available. Water levels change from year to year, and broad rocky shores can appear in dry years. The sunset remains lovely in any case. It is about 80 km in a straight line from Sulaymaniyah and about 82 km from Erbil. A car is the best way there, and it is worth staying until sunset. Bring food if you want a picnic, and keep away from the dam facilities except where allowed. The UK Foreign Office currently advises against all but essential travel to this area, so check official guidance before planning.
Between hills and mountains.
Small resorts and spots.
Lovely light over the water.
Near Ranya, Sulaymaniyah Governorate, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
We found no official guidance, so ask at the resorts and beware of changing depth and rocky shores.
Yes, it lies between Erbil and Sulaymaniyah, so you can stop on the way.