Qaleh Chai Dam

Qaleh Chai Dam is located 20 kilometres from the town of Ajab Shir in East Azerbaijan Province. This earth-fill dam with an impermeable clay core was built on the Qaleh Chai River to supply irrigation water and develop the farmland downstream, and it entered service in 1387 (2008). The dam is 85 metres high from its foundation, its crest is 336 metres long, and its useful storage volume is 40 million cubic metres. It has a regulation capacity of 55 million cubic metres of water and plays an important role in supplying water to 11,900 hectares of the region's farmland.

With its beautiful natural scenery and diverse vegetation, the area around Qaleh Chai Dam is regarded as one of the tourist attractions of Ajab Shir County. Watershed management projects upstream of the dam have increased vegetation cover in the area and helped prevent soil erosion and sedimentation behind the dam. These measures have improved the environmental conditions and increased the water resources of the region. Qaleh Chai Dam can be reached by a paved road from the town of Ajab Shir. The route to the dam passes through the villages of the region, and visitors can enjoy the natural landscapes and the surrounding villages. With facilities such as gazebos, a car park and green space, the area offers a pleasant setting for recreation and relaxation.

The best time to visit Qaleh Chai Dam and its surroundings is spring and early summer, when nature is in bloom and the weather in the area is mild and pleasant. Visitors can also help avoid harming the ecosystem by following the principles of responsible nature tourism. Protecting the environment and respecting the area's conservation rules are among the most important principles of nature tourism.