Lake Amtkeli

Lake Amtkeli
Lake Amtkeli Show map of Abkhazia Lake Amtkeli Show map of Georgia
Location	Gulripshi District
Coordinates	43°05′42″N 41°17′54″E / 43.09500°N 41.29833°E / 43.09500; 41.29833
Lake type	Glacial lake
Primary inflows	Amtkeli
Primary outflows	Jampali (through sinkholes) Amtkeli
Catchment area	153 km2 (59 sq mi)
Basin countries	Georgia, (Abkhazia[1])
Built	3 October 1891
Max. length	2.4 km (1.5 mi)
Surface area	0.58 km2 (0.22 sq mi)
Max. depth	65 m (213 ft)
Surface elevation	512 m (1,680 ft)
Frozen	very rarely
Settlements	Azanta

Lake Amtkeli or Amtkel^[2] (Georgian: ამტყელის ტბა; Abkhaz: Амтҟьал) 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 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 Jampali 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]

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]

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