Bazaleti Lake

Bazaleti Lake
The Bazaleti Lake at the sunset
Coordinates	42°02′20″N 44°40′41″E / 42.039°N 44.678°E / 42.039; 44.678Coordinates: 42°02′20″N 44°40′41″E / 42.039°N 44.678°E / 42.039; 44.678
Basin countries	Georgia
Surface area	1.22 km2 (0.47 sq mi)
Max. depth	30 m (98 ft)

The Bazaleti Lake (Georgian: ბაზალეთის ტბა) is a lake in eastern Georgia some 60 km northwest of the nation's capital Tbilisi and 5 km south of the town of Dusheti. It is used for fish culture, irrigation and recreation. The nearby village and the historical district around the lake are also known as Bazaleti.

The surface area of the lake is 1.22 km². and its maximum depth is 30 m. The area around the lake housed a flourishing medieval town and is surrounded by many legends. In 1626, the Battle of Bazaleti between two rival Georgian factions took place there.

Currently, the area is a popular recreational area served by a modern tourist complex.

It is known that Bazaleti lake has an outflow but it has not been discovered. Locals claim that the water recirculates. They tell a story about a bull which was drowned in the lake and was later found in a well in the nearby village.

According to local legend, a golden-haired child is lying in a golden crib on the bottom of the lake. The lake was formed from his mother's tears. The story is retold in a Georgian poem.