Voshmgir Dam

Voshmgir Dam is one of the most important water structures in Golestan Province. It was built on the Gorganrud River, near Abbasabad village in Aq Qala County. The dam lies about 62 kilometres northeast of Gorgan, and because it sits in the broad plains of the north of the province, it offers a landscape quite different from Golestan's other natural attractions. Survey work on the dam began in 1343 (Solar Hijri), construction started in 1345, and it finally entered service in 1349. Over the past decades, Voshmgir Dam has played an important role in supplying agricultural water to the region's vast farmlands, and it is considered one of the vital infrastructure assets of the north of the province.

The dam is a homogeneous earthfill dam built of silty and clayey materials, with a crest 430 metres long and a height of about 20 metres from the foundation. Besides its main reservoir, Voshmgir Dam has three secondary reservoirs, built at different times to increase water storage capacity. When it first entered service, the combined capacity of the complex's reservoirs was about 96 million cubic metres, but extensive sedimentation over the years has reduced this capacity. Together with the view of the surrounding plains, the dam's water surface is a good place for enjoying nature, watching migratory birds and seeing the sunset. The dam's historical role in developing the region's agriculture and irrigating thousands of hectares of farmland adds to its importance.

Voshmgir Dam can be reached via the roads of Aq Qala County and the route to Abbasabad village, and travellers can easily get there by private car. The best time to visit is autumn, winter and spring, when the weather in the region is milder, migratory birds can be seen and the natural scenery is at its most beautiful. Given the importance of this water source and the ecosystem around it, visitors should avoid leaving litter, damaging the vegetation or causing pollution around the dam. Following the principles of responsible nature tourism plays an important part in protecting this valuable body of water and the natural habitats around it.