Tartar (river)

The Tartar (Azerbaijani: Tərtərçay, Armenian: Թարթառ) is one of the tributaries of the Kura River located in Azerbaijan. It passes through the districts of Kalbajar, Barda and Tartar. Parts of the river flows through the self-proclaimed Republic of Artsakh's Martakert Province.

Tartarchay Tartar, Թարթառ
Native name	Tərtərçay
Location
Country	Azerbaijan Partly: Republic of Artsakh (de facto)
Region	Caucasus
Districts	Kalbajar, Barda, Tartar Partly: Martakert Province (de facto)
Cities	Kalbajar, Martakert, Tartar, Barda
Physical characteristics
Source	Lesser Caucasus
• location	Near Istisu, Kalbajar District, Azerbaijan
• coordinates	39°55′56″N 45°58′6″E
• elevation	3,120 m (10,240 ft)[1]
Mouth	Kura River
• location	Barda, Azerbaijan
• coordinates	40°26′49″N 47°18′26″E
Length	200 km (120 mi)[1]
Basin size	2,650 km^2 (1,020 sq mi)[1]
Discharge
• location	directly downstream into Kura[1]
• average	22 m^3/s (780 cu ft/s)[1]
Basin features
River system	Kura River
Tributaries
• left	Levçay, Ağdabançay
• right	Turağayçay

Overview

Tartar River

Tartar is the left tributary of Kura, the largest river in the Caucasus. The river originates in the area where Qonqur, Alaköz and Mıxtökən mountain ranges meet on Karabakh Plateau in the vicinity of hot springs village of Istisu located de jure in Kalbajar Rayon of Azerbaijan[2] and de facto in the Martakert Province of the Republic of Artsakh. The altitude where the river originates from mountain springs is 3,120 m (10,240 ft) above sea level. The river flows eastward through the whole Kalbajar rayon (de facto Martakert Province) passing through Kalbajar city, Tartar and Barda raions passing through Tartar and Barda cities before discharging into Kura. The river has two left tributaries: Levçay (36 km (22 mi)) and Ağdabançay (19 km (12 mi)), and one right tributary Turağayçay (35 km (22 mi)). Sarsang reservoir was built on Tartar river in 1976 for electricity and irrigation purposes.[1]

Statistical information

The overall length of the river is 200 km (120 mi), the basin area is 2,650 km² (1,020 sq mi). Tartarchay is considered one of the water-rich tributaries of Kura within Azerbaijani territory. The water volumes are sourced from rainfall (14%), snow (28%) and underground waters (58%). During spring and summer months, the snow melting in the mountains causes floods making up 65–70% of the annual water flow. In August and September, the water levels decrease. From October until November, the rainfall increases the water levels again. The average annual discharge of the river is 22 m³/s (780 cu ft/s). Average annual flow is 693.8 million m³. The average mineralization of the river is 300–500 mg/l with hydrocarbons and calcium.[1]

Water uses

What was once the famous resort village of Istisu (lit. 'Hot Water' in Azerbaijani), which was occupied and ruined following the First Nagorno-Karabakh War, is located on the lower part of the river. The resort contains both natural drinking mineral water and hot water spring for bathing. Sarsang Hydro Power Plant with capacity of 50 megawatt is operated at the Sarsang reservoir of the river[3] and is the main source of electric energy for the Republic of Artsakh (40–60%).[4]

See also

• Rivers and lakes in Azerbaijan
• Qarqar River

References

1. RIVERS OF AZERBAIJAN: Tərtərçay
2. Ministry of Ecology: Azərbaycanın çayları, gölləri və su anbarları Archived 2014-10-17 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 15 October
3. Artsakh HEK and ArmenBrok. "IPO Investment Memorandum" (PDF). Armenbrok CJSC. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 7, 2011. Retrieved January 12, 2011.
4. Mediamax (2009-03-03). ""Artsakh Hydroelectric Power Plant" realizes the first IPO in Armenia". Banks.am. Retrieved 9 January 2011.