Lake Amtkeli

Lake Amtkeli or Amtkel[2] (Abkhazian: Амтҟьал; Georgian: ამტყელის ტბა; Russian: Амткел) 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.[3][4][5]

Lake Amtkeli
Lake Amtkeli
Lake Amtkeli
LocationGulripshi district
Coordinates43°05′42″N 41°17′54″E
Lake typeGlacial lake
Primary inflowsAmtkeli
Primary outflowsJampali (through sinkholes)
Amtkeli
Catchment area153 km2 (59 sq mi)
Basin countriesGeorgia, (Abkhazia[1])
Built3 October 1891
Max. length2.4 km (1.5 mi)
Surface area0.58 km2 (0.22 sq mi)
Max. depth65 m (213 ft)
Surface elevation512 m (1,680 ft)
Frozenvery rarely
SettlementsAzanta

Geography

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 Jampal 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 40 m (131 ft) in the lake's average 512 m (1,680 ft) height above sea level and 65 m (213 ft) maximal depth, and increasing its length from 2.4 km (1.5 mi) to 4 km (2.5 mi). The average surface area of Lake Amtkeli is 0.58 km2 (0.22 sq mi), and its drainage basin measures 153 km2 (59 sq mi).

Due to the lake's origin, its underwater slopes are steep, following the surface slopes.[4]

Environment

Lake Amtkeli is home to trout, chub, nase, barbel and spirlin.

In July and August, the lake's average surface temperature is 20 °C (68 °F), in Winter it rarely freezes over.[4]

Human settlement

The village of Azanta is located next to lake Amtkeli, and some of its inhabitants keep fishing boats on its shore.[4]

References
  1. Abkhazia is the subject of a territorial dispute between the Republic of Abkhazia and Georgia. The Republic of Abkhazia unilaterally declared independence on 23 July 1992, but Georgia continues to claim it as part of its own sovereign territory and designates it as a territory occupied by Russia. Abkhazia has received formal recognition as an independent state from 7 out of 193 United Nations member states, 1 of which has subsequently withdrawn its recognition.
  2. "Lake Amtkel", page 63, A Checklist of the Ground-beetles of Russia and Adjacent Lands
  3. Solonenko, V.P. (1979). "Mapping the After-Effects of Disastrous Earthquakes and Estimation of Hazard for Engineering Constructions". Bulletin of the International Association of Engineering Geology. Krefeld. 19: 138–142. doi:10.1007/bf02600466.
  4. Озеро, рожденное обвалом (in Russian). bluekaz.ru. 2009. Retrieved 18 February 2010.
  5. Bondyrev, I. V.; Z. K. Tatashidz; V. P. Singh; E. D. Tsereteli; A. Yilmaz (2004). "Impediments to the Sustainable Development of the Caucasus-Pontdes Region". Journal of Comparative Social Welfare. London: Routledge. 20 (1): 33–48. doi:10.1080/17486830408417009.
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