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Göygöl
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Бирюзовое озеро Гёйгёль в лесах
Ganja · Azerbaijan—The Lesser Caucasus

GöygölThe “Blue Lake” — a turquoise jewel born of an earthquake

The most famous mountain lake of Azerbaijan: turquoise water at the foot of Mount Kapaz, spruce forests and the silence of protected nature.

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The lake

A lake that a catastrophe created.

Göygöl (“Blue Lake”) is the most famous and beautiful mountain lake of Azerbaijan. It lies on the slopes of the Lesser Caucasus, at the foot of Mount Kapaz, near Ganja.

The lake was born of a catastrophe: in 1139 a powerful earthquake brought down part of Mount Kapaz, and a rockslide dammed a mountain river. So a turquoise lake arose in the valley.

Göygöl's water is famous for its special blue-green colour and clarity. Around it are spruce and beech forests, home to trout, deer and rare birds.

Today Göygöl is the heart of a national park and one of the symbols of Azerbaijani nature, protected for almost a century.

In brief

The lake in a few traits

1139the year of its birth — an earthquake
Kapazthe mountain whose collapse created the lake
≈1556 mabove sea level
National parkGöygöl National Park

How the lake was born

From an earthquake to a reserve

A short timeline of how a natural catastrophe created a jewel of the Caucasus.

1139
A powerful Ganja earthquake shakes the Lesser Caucasus.
The Kapaz collapse
Part of Mount Kapaz collapses, and a rockslide dams a mountain river.
Birth of the lake
The dammed water fills the valley — and so the turquoise Lake Göygöl appears.
A chain of lakes
The same collapse gives birth to neighbouring mountain lakes too, including Maralgöl.
1925
A reserve is created around the lake — one of the first in Azerbaijan and the Caucasus.
Today
Göygöl is the heart of a national park and a protected natural jewel of the country.
Гора Кяпаз и след древнего обвалаMount Kapaz

Birth

A child of the earthquake

Göygöl is a rare case where beauty was born of catastrophe. The collapse of Kapaz in 1139 dammed a river and, in just a few years, created a lake admired for nearly nine centuries.

The mark of that collapse can still be seen on the mountain's slopes.

How the lake was born →

Водопад в лесах национального парка ГёйгёльForests and waters

Nature

Turquoise, spruce and trout

Göygöl's chief wonder is the colour of its water: clean, blue-green, transparent. The lake is surrounded by spruce and beech forests, waterfalls, mountain meadows and rare fauna.

The famous local trout lives in its cool water.

The lake's nature →

“The colour of Göygöl's water is impossible to forget — it is turquoise itself, set among the mountains.”

Lake Göygöl · the Lesser Caucasus
Озеро Маралгёль и гора Кяпаз в национальном паркеMaralgöl · Kapaz

National park

A protected land of lakes

Göygöl is the heart of a national park, which protects mountains, forests and a whole chain of lakes: Maralgöl, Zaligöl and others, born of the same earthquake.

Protection here is a tradition almost a century old.

The national park →

Горная дорога в национальном парке ГёйгёльThe road

Getting there

The road to the lake

Göygöl is near Ganja — the second-largest city of Azerbaijan. The road leads through the mountains into the national park, whose access is regulated.

The best time is late spring, summer and golden autumn.

Getting there →

Sections

Explore further

01

Birth

The 1139 earthquake and the collapse of Kapaz.

Read more → 02

Nature

Turquoise water, forests, waterfalls, trout.

Read more → 03

National park

The reserve, the chain of lakes and conservation.

Read more → 04

Getting there

Ganja, the road, the season and tips.

Read more →

Questions & answers

Göygöl in brief

What is Lake Göygöl?
Göygöl (“Blue Lake”) is the most famous mountain lake of Azerbaijan, on the slopes of the Lesser Caucasus at the foot of Mount Kapaz, near Ganja. It is part of a national park and famous for its turquoise water.
How was the lake formed?
The lake arose from a strong earthquake in 1139: the collapse of part of Mount Kapaz dammed a mountain river with a rockslide, and a lake formed in the valley. The same collapse created the neighbouring lakes too.
What does the name “Göygöl” mean?
From Azerbaijani, “Göygöl” means “Blue Lake” — after the characteristic blue-green, turquoise colour of its water.
Where is Göygöl?
The lake is in western Azerbaijan, in the Lesser Caucasus mountains, near the city of Ganja, at about 1556 metres above sea level. It is part of Göygöl National Park.
Can you visit the lake?
Yes, Göygöl is open to visitors, but it lies within a national park, so access is regulated by conservation rules. Check the conditions and entry arrangements before your trip.
When is the best time to go?
The best time to visit is from late spring to golden autumn, when the roads are open and nature is especially beautiful. In winter the lake and mountains are also picturesque, but weather and access depend on conditions.