Euphrates Lake

Euphrates Lake
بحيرة الفرات (Arabic)
Euphrates Lake (left), Euphrates Dam (centre), and Mansoura Dam (right). The photo was taken on STS-78, June 1996. North is in the upper left corner of the image.
Euphrates Lake
Map of the wider Lake Euphrates region
LocationRaqqa Governorate
Coordinates36°00′N 38°10′E / 36.000°N 38.167°E / 36.000; 38.167
Typereservoir
Primary inflowsEuphrates
Primary outflowsEuphrates
Basin countriesSyria
Built1968
First flooded1974
Max. length80 km (50 mi)
Max. width8 km (5 mi)
Surface area525 km2 (203 sq mi)
Water volume10 km3 (2.4 cu mi)
IslandsJazirat al-Tabqah
SettlementsAl-Tabqah
Location
Interactive map of Euphrates Lake

Euphrates Lake (Arabic: بحيرة الفرات, romanizedBuḥayrat al-Furāt), also known as Lake Tabqa, and formerly known as Lake Assad, is a reservoir on the Euphrates in Raqqa Governorate, Syria. It was created in 1974 when construction of the Euphrates Dam was completed. Euphrates Lake is Syria's largest lake, with a maximum capacity of 11.7 cubic kilometres (2.8 cu mi) and a maximum surface area of 525 square kilometres (203 sq mi). A vast network of canals uses water from Euphrates Lake to irrigate lands on both sides of the Euphrates. In addition, the lake provides drinking water for the city of Aleppo and supports a fishing industry. The shores of Euphrates Lake have developed into important ecological zones.