Batabat Lake

Batabat Lake is a high-altitude alpine lake in the Shahbuz district, used as a water reservoir and notable for its scenery and the mineral springs nearby. The lake sits in mountain country at over 2,000 metres, surrounded by the peaks of the Zangazur range.

The Batabat mineral springs close to the lake are among the medicinal springs that Shahbuz is known for across Nakhchivan. The waters are mildly carbonated and sulphurous; people from the region visit specifically for the springs.

The lake is accessible by road from Shahbuz settlement, though the condition of the upper section depends on the season. The area around the lake is good walking country in summer, with views across the high plateau toward the Armenian border.

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A story
Batabat Lake sits at around 2,200 metres altitude and was created when a landslide dammed the Shahbuz River — a relatively recent geological event in a district full of ancient human history. The Farhad Tower, a Bronze Age watchtower, stands near the lake's shore; the juxtaposition of a prehistoric fortification and a lake that did not exist in prehistoric times says something about how thoroughly this landscape has shifted over the millennia.