Kov-Ata underground lake
Turkmenistan has an underground Kov-Ata lake, a unique work of nature. It is located 60 kilometers west of Ashgabat in the cave of Kov mountain in Baherden district of Ahal province. The popularity of this place depends not only on the beauty of the underground nature, but also on the healing properties of the water.
Millions of years ago, subterranean tectonic forces formed the lithic sediments of the ancient Tethys Sea floor into cyclopean layers, forming the Kopetdag Geysers.
Remembering where his stones were born, he wanted to have at least one lake, even if this mountain didn’t have a sea within its borders. But the water springs of the mountain flowed down the slopes and disappeared in the hot sands of Karakum. Kopetdag then prepared a stone basin for the lake on the inner side of his territory, under the rocks of Kov Mountain, filled it with warm water rich in minerals, and ordered the rocks to protect the reservoir like the apple of his eye. For centuries, people knew that Kov-Ata had a beautiful lake hidden in a huge cave.
The cave is 230 meters long and 65 meters deep from the main entrance to the lake. Most of its territory is covered by a lake with an average depth of 10 meters. Water contains chlorine, carbon dioxide, bromine, aluminum, iron, and other elements, about 30 in total. The water here is warm (34-37 degrees), slightly cloudy, blue-green in color.
Bathing in this lake has been proven to treat skin diseases (itching, various wounds on the body), dry stomach, colds, kidney diseases, regulate the functioning of the central nervous system and have a positive effect on the whole body. 20 minutes of soaking time is recommended. At the entrance of the monastery there is a green garden, in the shade of which there are tents and guest houses. Here you can taste Turkmen national dishes.
The descent to Bahred Cave starts from the steps, which go down, with a total of more than three hundred steps, which are not very high. Adequate lighting was arranged to avoid too much light in the eyes of the visitors of the cave. After climbing more than two hundred meters of steps, you will descend 65 meters from the entrance to the lake, whose surface glistens in the light of the lamps. This reservoir, hidden in the rock, gives the Kov-Ata cave an inimitable uniqueness.
Kov-Ata is a national reserve because of the unique creatures living in the cave. There is a family of ground birds that are not found in other parts of the CIS. In order not to disturb the peace of this creature’s kingdom, one must not speak loudly and knock on anything, which is why the lights in the cave are low.
It is the largest underground lake in the CIS and one of the largest in Eurasia. Reaching a width of 23 meters and a length of 75 meters, it extends between high stone walls towards the complex. The average depth of the reservoir is 10 meters, and the deepest point is 15 meters. The size of the lake is impressive – it is one thousand square meters.
