Dam Lake Dohuk
Just above the city, the Duhok Dam holds back a long, clear reservoir ringed by hills. Built in the 1980s to water the surrounding plains, the lake and its shore have become Duhok's favourite escape — a place for evening drives, picnics and views across the water to the mountains beyond.
3 stops to discover
- 1
Evenings by the Water
The reservoir behind the Duhok Dam is the city's favourite place to unwind. In the evenings its shore fills with families walking, grilling and watching the light fade over the water and the surrounding hills.
- 2
The Lake Behind the Dam
This long, narrow lake is the reservoir held back by the Duhok Dam, an earth-fill embankment built on the Duhok River between 1980 and 1988, mainly to supply water for irrigation. The reservoir stretches up to about 4 kilometres long and 1.7 kilometres wide, hemmed in by the ridges just north of the city.
- 3
Jet-Skis on the Water
Although the dam was built for irrigation, its lake has taken on a second life as a place to play. In recent years it has become a popular leisure spot for Duhok's residents, with water sports such as jet-skiing growing more popular on the reservoir.
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