The Tartar (, ) is one of the

tributaries A tributary, or an ''affluent'', is a stream or river that flows into a larger stream ('' main stem'' or ''"parent"''), river, or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean. Tributaries, and the main stem river into which the ...

of the Kura river located in

Azerbaijan Azerbaijan, officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, is a Boundaries between the continents, transcontinental and landlocked country at the boundary of West Asia and Eastern Europe. It is a part of the South Caucasus region and is bounded by ...

. It passes through the districts of Kalbajar, Barda and Tartar.

Overview

The Tartar is a left tributary of the Kura, the largest river in the Caucasus. The river originates in the area where Qonqur, Alaköz and Mıxtökən mountain ranges meet on the Karabakh Plateau in the vicinity of the hot springs village of Istisu located in

Kalbajar Rayon Kalbajar District () is one of the 66 Administrative divisions of Azerbaijan, districts of Azerbaijan. It is located in the west of the country and belongs to the East Zangezur Economic Region. The district borders the districts of Lachin Distric ...

of Azerbaijan. The river originates from mountain springs at above sea level. The river flows eastward through the whole Kalbajar Rayon (de facto Martakert Province), passing through Kalbajar city, Tartar and Barda

raion A raion (also spelt rayon) is a type of administrative unit of several post-Soviet states. The term is used for both a type of subnational entity and a division of a city. The word is from the French (meaning 'honeycomb, department'), and is c ...

s and through Tartar and Barda cities before discharging into the Kura. The river has two left tributaries: the Levçay () and the Ağdabançay (), and one right tributary, the Turağayçay (). Sarsang reservoir was built on Tartar river in 1976 for electricity generation and irrigation purposes.

Statistical information

The river is long, and has a drainage basin of .Тертер

Great Soviet Encyclopedia The ''Great Soviet Encyclopedia'' (GSE; , ''BSE'') is one of the largest Russian-language encyclopedias, published in the Soviet Union from 1926 to 1990. After 2002, the encyclopedia's data was partially included into the later ''Great Russian Enc ...

The Tartarchay is considered one of the water-rich tributaries of the 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 . Average annual flow is 693.8 million m³. The average mineralization of the river is 300–500 mg/L with hydrocarbons and calcium.

Water uses

What was once the famous resort village of Istisu ( in Azerbaijani), which was occupied and ruined following the

First Nagorno-Karabakh War The First Nagorno-Karabakh War was an ethnic conflict, ethnic and territorial conflict that took place from February 1988 to May 1994, in the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh in southwestern Azerbaijan, between the majority ethnic Armenians of Nag ...

, 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 megawatts is operated at the Sarsang reservoir of the river and is the main source of electric energy for the

Republic of Artsakh Artsakh ( ), officially the Republic of Artsakh or the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh ( ), was a breakaway state in the South Caucasus whose territory was internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan. Between 1991 and 2023, Artsakh cont ...

(40–60%).

References

{{Rivers and lakes in Azerbaijan Rivers of Azerbaijan Tartar District Kalbajar District Barda District Martakert Province

Overview

Statistical information

Water uses

See also

References