Needless to say, there’re too many large and small lakes in the north of Azerbaijan.
And to a large extent, they're natural, having been periodically born by Mother Nature.
Justifiably, the sincere beauty of those natural lakes is not open to discussion.
But there's one in Quba that can definitely match them despite its man-made origin.
I’m talking about Chanlibel Lake, which offers whatever you want, like hiking around it, boating, fishing, and so forth.
Let's dive into all the key aspects of this lake and get some clues before visiting it, such as:
A little about its story;
Things to do;
How to get there;
Entrance fee and much more.
Come with me.
Brief Story of Chanlibel Lake in Quba, Azerbaijan
First of all, as I said above, this lake is human-made, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have any natural features. I’ll tell you what I mean by that later.
Chanlibel Lake (Azerbaijani: Cenlibel Golu) was created in the 1960s to irrigate the land.
Though some say its story goes back to the 1950s, records show that the lake was fully completed in 1969. Probably, there was a small lake-like thing before the 1960s, and that’s why some locals remember it like that.
With this feature, it’s sort of a reminiscence of the instagrammable Nohur Lake in Gabala (it is also a non-natural lake, but nonetheless, once there was a small lake in the area).
And/or the truth was somehow lost in the Soviet era of Azerbaijan. Anyways. As for the area it covers, the lake has an area of approx. 9 hectares. Its deepest point is about 15 meters.
For its scenic view and its location on the foothills of the Greater Caucasus Mountains, it is most of the time called the twin brother of Lake Goygol in the Lesser Caucasus.
Lastly, what is natural about Lake Chanlibel is that the lake refills its water with the clear springs coming only from the mountains. That's why the water in Chanlibel is ice-cold even in the scorching hot summer weather.
It makes swimming in the lake dangerous, and it is therefore prohibited. And most likely, its greenish-tinged water color owes this to those icy forest waters.
Chanlibel Lake Things to Do: From Boating to Horse Riding
Given its perfect location and the popularity of Quba travel-wise, Chenlibel Lake and its vicinity are perfect for almost any type of leisure pursuit.
There's plenty to do here, like boating on the lake or horseback riding around it. If you plan the timing well, you can relax your mind and feel connected to nature through angling. It's got a bunch of different kinds of fish, like perch, pike, and carp.
For example, the last time I visited Chanlibel in winter, unluckily, fishing was impossible because the ice was more than 10 centimeters thick. But still, the view was breathtaking.
Not over yet. You should know that visiting this lake is a great opportunity for camping and hiking. The south bank of the lake is covered with thick forests and mountains.
So, in order to contribute to ecotourism and enjoy nature to the greatest degree of awareness possible, try a calm walk in the forests of Quba Cenlibel necessarily.
I mean eco-tourism in both meanings of the term, really. Because the last time I visited there, the entrance fee was only 1 AZN (60 Cent).
Long story short, Lake Chanlibel has a lot of things to do whether you visit in summer or winter, or whether you are alone or with your family.
And if you want to know my favorite activity at the lake - it's just buying an ice cream in summer and breathing deeply to enjoy the moment. I’d recommend it.
One last word, if you plan to visit this place in the fall, don't forget to take your camera with you. The fog drifting lightly over the lake creates a wonderful view.
How to Get to Chanlibel, Quba and Where to Stay
Location-wise, Quba, Chanlibel is near (only 2 km away from) a village called Second Nugedi (there is also a First Nugedi), which you can reach after about 170 km from the Old City of Baku.
That Nugedi village is located on both banks of the beautiful river Qarachay (or Garachay). Take it like this: the river divided the village into two parts.
Normally, you can get to Quba's Chanlibel in three ways:
By renting a car in Baku;
Using one of the taxi apps;
Or, the easiest way - by tour bus (it might be a bit hard to get there by intercity bus for the first time).
If you’re planning to visit Chanlibel Lake as a couple-of-hours part of your Quba tour, you can also pop by other attractions of Azerbaijan like the Candy Cane Mountains along the way coming from Baku.
On the flip side, you can also visit the authentic village of Azerbaijani Mountain Jews called Krasnaya Sloboda. So you can hit three birds with one stone on your day trip to Quba.
But what if you would like to stay just on the shore of the lake and enjoy the view for a couple of days?
I have something for you; the best choice is to stay at the beautiful and picturesque Macara Village Resort. Look this:
They also have the best restaurant in Quba to try delicious Azerbaijani food. I’d definitely recommend it.
Just book a room beforehand because in high season it’s almost impossible to find a room. Macara Village Resort prices are affordable on bht.az. Check it out.
That's all I've got to say. Have a nice stay and a joyful trip.
Need help planning your Azerbaijan adventure? Then reach out to us at this number » +994 992 72 22 27.
Leave a Comment