Aghche Dam

Aghche Reservoir Dam is one of the natural and tourist attractions of Buin va Miandasht County in the west of Isfahan Province, located near the village of Aghche. The dam stands about 190 kilometres west of Isfahan and 14 kilometres north of the town of Buin va Miandasht. Thanks to its springs, full-flowing rivers and high mountains, the Aghche area has stunning scenery, and the lake behind the dam is one of its most beautiful natural features. The cool climate of the area, especially on the hot days of the year, makes it a pleasant place for walks and nature tourism.

The lake of Aghche Dam has formed behind an earth-fill dam with a clay core, which was built between 2001 and 2009 (construction began in 1380 and finished in 1388 in the Solar Hijri calendar). The dam is built on the Sarab River in the Central Plateau – Namak Lake (Salt Lake) drainage basin, and its crest is 525 metres long. The dam is 31 metres high from the riverbed and 36.5 metres high from its foundation, and its reservoir holds about 2 million cubic metres at normal level. The main purposes of building the structure were to supply water to part of the Buin va Miandasht plain and to the villages of Aghche, Zarneh and Hezarjarib. Providing the water needed for fish farming and creating job opportunities in the area were also among the goals of the project. The view of the lake alongside the surrounding mountains and the lush landscape, especially in spring, is one of the area's main tourist attractions.

To reach Aghche Dam, drive north from the town of Buin va Miandasht and follow the road to the village of Aghche; the dam lies about 14 kilometres from the town. Given the cool climate and the natural scenery around the lake, spring and summer are the best times to visit. In spring, the green slopes and surrounding countryside look their best, and in summer the cool air makes it a good place to spend time outdoors. When visiting, stick to safe, permitted paths around the lake, do not leave litter or damage the vegetation, and, because this is a working dam facility, stay out of restricted areas and keep away from dangerous sections along the edge of the reservoir.