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Earth Satellite Corporation for NASA CC BY-SA 4.0 Wikimedia Commons

Lake Tharthar

Lake

A large reservoir between the Tigris and Euphrates in Al Anbar, built for flood control and irrigation. Visitors who make the trip encounter remote lakeshore scenery, local fishing activity and broad, flat plains rather than developed tourist facilities.

Lake Tharthar BaghdadBaqubahNational Museum of IraqEshnunnaAl-Kazimiyya MosqueKhafajahCtesiphonChoga MamiLake Tharthar

Lake Tharthar essentials

Country: Iraq
Driest months: Jun-Aug
Pay in: Dinar (ع.د)
Language: Arabic, Kurdish

Lake Tharthar at a Glance

About Lake Tharthar

Lake Tharthar is a large freshwater reservoir in Al Anbar Governorate, Iraq, located between the Tigris and Euphrates river systems. It was created and is managed for water regulation, flood control and irrigation purposes.

The open water and surrounding marshy areas support limited fishing and bird life but the lake is not a developed tourist destination. Infrastructure and visitor services are minimal and access is primarily for local uses and water-management operations.

The body of water was formed in the mid-20th century as part of engineered waterworks to control seasonal flooding of the Tigris and Euphrates and to provide storage for irrigation. It has since been used in various regional water-management schemes.

The lake lies in central-west Iraq within Al Anbar Governorate, occupying a broad depression between the two major rivers and their agricultural plains. It is situated to the northwest of Baghdad.

  • Role: Primarily functions as a reservoir for flood control and water management rather than a developed recreational destination.
When to Go

Best Time to Visit Lake Tharthar

Best visited in the cooler months (late autumn through early spring) to avoid Iraq's intense summer heat.

Winter & Spring
November-March · 10-25°C
Cooler, more comfortable conditions for visiting the lake and surrounding desert landscapes; best time to avoid extreme heat.
Summer
June-September · 35-45°C
Extremely hot and dry; avoid daytime outdoor activity near the lake during peak summer heat.
Autumn
October · 20-30°C
Transitional and generally pleasant with lower temperatures than summer.

Weather & Climate near Lake Tharthar

Climate

Lake Tharthar's climate is classified as Hot Desert - Hot Desert climate with very hot summers (peaking in July) and cool winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 6°C to 40°C. Very dry conditions with minimal rainfall with a pronounced dry season.

Air Quality: AQI 88 Moderate
Best Time to Visit
MayOctoberApril
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
47°
Warmest Month
-4°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions
Month Comfort Temp Feels Rain Sky Humidity Wind UV Daylight
January Very Good 6° - 15° 11° 19 mm some cloud 66% 2.9 m/s 0.5 low 10.1h
February Excellent 8° - 17° 13° 21 mm mostly sunny 61% 3.3 m/s 0.7 moderate 10.9h
March Excellent 12° - 21° 16° 19 mm mostly sunny 50% 3.6 m/s 1.1 high 11.9h
April Ideal 17° - 26° 22° 13 mm some cloud 44% 3.4 m/s 1.5 very high 12.9h
May Ideal 22° - 32° 27° 8 mm mostly sunny 36% 3.1 m/s 2.0 very high 13.8h
June Ideal 26° - 37° 32° 0 mm clear 28% 3.5 m/s 2.4 extreme 14.2h
July Ideal 28° - 40° 34° 0 mm clear 28% 3.5 m/s 2.3 extreme 14.0h
August Ideal 27° - 40° 33° 0 mm clear 29% 3.6 m/s 2.1 extreme 13.2h
September Ideal 24° - 37° 30° 0 mm clear 31% 2.7 m/s 1.6 very high 12.3h
October Ideal 19° - 31° 25° 5 mm mostly sunny 40% 2.3 m/s 1.0 high 11.2h
November Ideal 13° - 23° 18° 18 mm mostly sunny 54% 2.3 m/s 0.6 moderate 10.3h
December Very Good 9° - 18° 13° 24 mm some cloud 64% 2.7 m/s 0.4 low 9.8h