Azernews.Az

By Laman Ismayilova

If you’re looking for some warm winter sun and crisp blue sky days, but prefer incredible scenery to sun-baking and a bit of skiing, then this is a great time of year to visit Nohur Lake, Gabala.

Gabala, which is located about 225 km away from the capital city, is a perfect place for rest. The region enjoys an excellent reputation and is a popular tourist destination. The weather here is mild in spring and autumn, hot in summer and cold in winter.

Winter has its own charm in Gabala. There is nothing in the world more beautiful than the forest clothed to its very hollows in snow.

Soul-stirring mountains, mist-shrouded forests and epic tooth-and-claw wildlife – this is Gabala’s grand outdoor wonderland. The Nohur Lake is beautiful in all seasons.

Nohur is a manmade lake created after WWII to supply surrounding villages with water. Today it is a popular recreation spot consisting of a large tree-lined body of water reflecting the Greater Caucasus Mountains in its green-blue waters. Swimming is prohibited but fishing and hiking are popular here.

Otherwise, you can simply enjoy breathing the fresh air and wondering at the dazzling views of the mountains.

In winter, the lake is gradually covered by thick ice, starting with the end of December, and reset ice cover occurs somewhere in late March. But every year the lake freezing occurs at different times. Everything depends on the vagaries of the weather.

The thickness of the ice cover on the surface of the lake can reach 40-50 cm. Frozen water causes astonishing variety of patterns from bubbles to jagged lines.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

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