Kartsakhi Lake Lake

High-altitude transboundary lake on Georgia–Turkey border

Kartsakhi Lake on Georgia's Javakheti Plateau lies near the Turkish border; a shallow, high-altitude lake in a protected area, it attracts birdwatchers and hikers exploring volcanic plateaus.

Kartsakhi Lake at a Glance#

Address: Kartsakhi Lake (Lake Kartsakhi / Aktaş), Samtskhe-Javakheti region, Georgia (near Turkey border)

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About Kartsakhi Lake#

Kartsakhi Lake is a high-altitude lake in southern Georgia in the Javakheti region, lying close to the international border with Turkey. The lake is a saline, shallow basin that forms part of a wider group of highland wetlands and is noted for its birdlife and seasonal waterfowl concentrations.

The lake sits on an elevated plateau and is included in regional conservation measures for its wetland habitats and migratory-bird importance. It is reached from local roads serving the nearby settlements in the Javakheti district.

Important bird area: Part of the Javakheti highland wetland system near the Turkey-Georgia border and important for migratory waterbirds in spring and autumn.

Tips for Visiting Kartsakhi Lake#

Visit Kartsakhi Lake (part of the Javakheti region) during spring or autumn migration for the best birdwatching-these seasons attract the most waders and waterfowl.
Access the lake via the village of Kartsakhi or Akhalkalaki and arrange a local guide or driver: roads are rural and a local will know the best vantage points and tracks to quieter shores, particularly for sunrise and sunset photography.

Best Time to Visit Kartsakhi Lake#

Visit in summer (June-August) when the highland climate is mildest and access to the lake is easiest.

Summer (most accessible)

June-August · 10-20°C

Cool, relatively dry conditions on the high plateau-easier access to the lake and surrounding trails.

Winter (cold and snowy)

December-February · -10-0°C

Cold, often snowy conditions that can make roads and access difficult; lake may freeze.

Shoulder seasons

April-May & September-October · 0-10°C

Cool and changeable weather; spring thaw and autumn cooling can affect accessibility.

Weather & Climate near Kartsakhi Lake#

Climate

Kartsakhi Lake's climate is classified as Warm-Summer Continental - Warm-Summer Continental climate with mild summers (peaking in August) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -12°C to 23°C. Moderate rainfall (526 mm/year).

Air Quality: AQI 57 Moderate

Best Time to Visit

AugustSeptemberJuly

Temperature & Rainfall

Temperature Range

32°

Warmest Month

-28°

Coldest Month

Monthly Conditions

Month	Comfort	Temp	Feels	Rain	Sky	Humidity	Wind	UV	Daylight
January	Poor	-12° - -3°	-11°	22 mm	overcast	92%	2.0 m/s	0.3 low	9.4h
February	Poor	-12° - -1°	-10°	26 mm	overcast	90%	2.0 m/s	0.6 moderate	10.5h
March	Poor	-8° - 3°	-5°	28 mm	overcast	82%	2.1 m/s	0.9 moderate	11.8h
April	Acceptable	-1° - 10°	3°	49 mm	overcast	77%	2.3 m/s	1.3 high	13.2h
May	Acceptable	3° - 14°	8°	83 mm	overcast	76%	2.0 m/s	1.6 very high	14.4h
June	Good	6° - 19°	13°	88 mm	overcast	73%	2.0 m/s	2.0 very high	15.0h
July	Very Good	10° - 22°	16°	57 mm	partly cloudy	69%	2.0 m/s	2.1 extreme	14.7h
August	Excellent	9° - 23°	16°	51 mm	partly cloudy	65%	2.1 m/s	1.9 very high	13.7h
September	Very Good	6° - 20°	13°	33 mm	partly cloudy	67%	1.9 m/s	1.3 high	12.3h
October	Good	1° - 13°	6°	36 mm	partly cloudy	73%	1.8 m/s	0.7 moderate	11.0h
November	Acceptable	-3° - 5°	-1°	29 mm	partly cloudy	80%	1.8 m/s	0.3 low	9.7h
December	Poor	-8° - -1°	-8°	24 mm	overcast	89%	2.0 m/s	0.2 low	9.1h