Mahabad Dam Lake

Mahabad Dam Lake is one of the natural and tourist attractions of West Azerbaijan Province. It lies in the city of Mahabad, only one kilometre from the city centre. The dam is 47.5 metres high with a crest length of 700 metres. It was built in 1349 (1970) with the cooperation of Yugoslav engineers, and is regarded as one of the dams closest to an urban area anywhere in the world. Mahabad Dam plays an important role in supplying the city's drinking water and irrigating more than 12,000 hectares of the region's farmland.

The reservoir behind the dam, with a useful capacity of 172 million cubic metres, is set among green mountains and beautiful natural scenery. The area has varied vegetation, including pastures and scattered woodland, especially in the western parts such as the villages of Kavalan and Kuran, which makes it a pleasant setting for nature tourism. Around the lake there are facilities such as food stalls and cafe-restaurants, which make for an enjoyable experience for visitors.

To reach Mahabad Dam Lake, you can take the roads from Mahabad to Sardasht and Piranshahr, which pass beside the dam. The best time to visit is spring and early summer, when nature is at its most beautiful and the mild weather is ideal for recreation and relaxation. When visiting, it is especially important to follow the principles of responsible nature tourism, such as not littering and not damaging the vegetation, so that this natural attraction is preserved for future generations.