Wide lake
Among volcanic peaks.
Yasuhiro Kojima — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Yasuhiro Kojima — CC BY-SA 4.0 · ZeevoX — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Jonathan Cardy — CC BY-SA 3.0 · G.N. — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Yasuhiro Kojima — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Jonathan Cardy — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Jonathan Cardy — CC BY-SA 3.0
A wide mountain lake at about 1,990 metres at the northern end of the volcanic Samsari range, south of Bakuriani. It is about six kilometres long and four and a half wide, covers some fourteen square kilometres and reaches forty metres deep, surrounded by bare volcanic peaks and green pastures. The lake is of volcanic-tectonic origin, fed by snow, rain and groundwater, and freezes from December to March. The villages of Tabatskuri and Moliti sit on its shores, trout swim in its water, and small islands dot its bays. The lake is part of a nature reserve, and one of its islands hosts the last known breeding population of velvet scoter ducks in the Caucasus, the subject of a 2023 documentary. Travellers come for the quiet, the wide views, camping and fishing. Visiting is free, but the road from Bakuriani over the Tskhratskaro pass is rough gravel, so a four-wheel-drive is best, and only in the warmer months. Services are very limited, so bring water, food and warm clothes; it is cool even in summer.
Among volcanic peaks.
On the shore.
The Caucasus's last colony.
Northern Javakheti plateau, south of Bakuriani over the Tskhratskaro pass
From Bakuriani over the Tskhratskaro pass on a rough gravel road; a 4x4 with a driver who knows the way is best, and only in summer.