Charvak Reservoir, Uzbekistan

Charvak: artificial lake in Uzbekistan mountains

This Pearl of Tian Shan Mountains has appeared quite recently. The rock fill dam of 168 meter height was made in 1970. Confluent of mountain rivers of Pskem, Kok-Su and Chatkal created the wonderful mountain lake – Charvak Reservoir, which blue water attracts everyone in hot summer days.

Formerly, some villages, mounds, evidences of primitive people sites, petroglyphs and other historical attractions has existed on the site of the lake bottom. But after the destructive earthquake of 1966, when entire USSR made every effort to rebuild Tashkent, it was the period of acute shortage of cheap and ecological electricity. Therefore the government decided to create the Charvak Hydropower Station (they didn’t have another more convenient place for this purpose). Archeologists and historians have conducted researches of every object, made photos and fixed over 150 monuments of this area. Today, 40 years later, major part of these attractions is under layers of mud and sludge.

Charvak Reservoir is located 60 km from Tashkent and is the most popular recreational area for local people. The coastline of the reservoir is almost 100 km, and half of this area is occupied by various recreation zones, boarding houses and summer camps. The most comfortable place here is the complex “Charvak Oromgokhi”, where you can have good time, tanning on sandy beach, boating or riding on water scooter. In addition you can enjoy your time in Yusupkhona and Brichmula villages overlooking the great panorama of Big and Small Chimgan peaks and other rock mountains, which are also popular tourist sites for residents and guests of the capital. 

One of small and interesting sights of Charvak Reservoir is the village of Bogiston. It is the birthplace of two great figures of East: Sheikh Khovendi at-Tahur (Shaykhantaur) and his distant relative Ubaydulla Akhror, world-wide known great master of Sufism. On the way to Charvak Dam you can visit “chaykhona” (national café) where you will find the 600-year Plane tree mural paintings of primitive people close to it.

It takes one hour or more to reach Charvak Reservoir from Tashkent. Here you can swim, go on a hike along surrounding hills and mountains as well as paraglide or ride on water scooter or just come to enjoy fresh air, pure mountain water and see unforgettable sunrises and sunsets.

Charvak Reservoir - Photos: