Cahul Lake

Odessa region of Ukraine is rich in lakes like probably no other region of Ukraine. South of Odessa, near the borders with Moldova and Romania, there are the largest (not counting estuaries) lakes in the country — Yalpug, Cahul, Kugurlui, Katlabug and Kitai, as well as dozens of small reservoirs.

Most of them were formed in the beds of dried-up tributaries of the Danube and belong to the group of Ukrainian Danube lakes. They are considered floodplain, or floodplain, which is the key to the formation of beautiful wetlands in this area.

The length is about 33 km.
The width reaches 11 km.
The area is about 93.5 km2 (also depends on the water level).
The maximum depth is 7 m.
The average depth is 2 m.

The westernmost of the vast Danube group of lakes is Kagul. It is also the second largest in the whole country. It is shaped like a mirrored soft sign. The southern part of the lake has an oval shape. From the eastern edge of the oval, a narrow part of the lake stretches in a two-kilometer strip exactly to the north. In the north, the lake borders Moldova, in several places the Ukrainian-Moldovan border runs right through the reservoir area.

Cahul is beautiful and quiet. It is almost windless in the summer months. This lake could be considered an excellent place for ecotourism if, due to its remoteness from major cities and an absolutely undeveloped tourist infrastructure, it did not remain in the shadow of other reservoirs located closer to the major Ukrainian cities of Izmail and Bolgrad. But those travelers who still travel kilometers along the dusty steppe roads, admiringly stop at the lake surface of Cahul and realize that they have not traveled in vain.

The northern limestone shores of the gulf lake rise above the endless mirror of waters. They have bizarre shapes and are cut by deep beams. Once streams or small streams flowed into the lake in these places, now these places are overgrown with grass and shrubs. The southern shore of Cahul is swampy. Birds are circling over its reeds, reeds and cattails. Some of them are just getting on the wing. They were born here, because Cahul is a very good place for nesting, and many species of birds have chosen it. Summer temperatures here are kept at +30 °C, warm waters are rich in fish and other wildlife. The bottom is sandy in shallow water, and deep down it is covered with loess silt. However, the reservoir is not particularly deep. At the lowest point, the distance to the surface does not exceed 7 meters, while the average depth of the Cahul is only 1.5-2 meters. This allows the lake waters to warm up well.

Cahul's water is renewed every spring. As soon as seasonal floods begin on the Danube, a river stream flows to the lake through a system of locks, bringing fish with it. The Danube is a salvation and a source of life for Cahul. However, apart from the great European river, the lake has practically no tributaries. The river of the same name, which is considered the only tributary of the Cahul, is dry most of the year and only sometimes, during the rainy season, its channel fills with water. A significant part of the water received in the spring evaporates in the dry, hot summer, and therefore the lake's water balance is unstable. The geographical location of the lake increases the threat of lack of water in the lake.

Unlike other lakes of the Ukrainian Duinai group, the coastal line of Cahul is divided by two states — Ukraine and Moldova. And both countries are successfully using the resources available to the reservoir. And although the Moldovan part of the coast is barely more than one kilometer long, Moldovans have built a water pumping station even on this tiny section, which pumps water from the lake for the surrounding fields and two small settlements: the village of Giurgiulesti and the city of Cahul. Ukrainian territories also need lake water, but lake fish are even more important. In this sense, the Cahul is indeed a breadwinner not only for the birds inhabiting the reed beds, but also for humans.

Another serious threat to Cahul is the possible depletion of the ichthyofauna. Commercial fish species are found here and even specially grown: pike, bream and catfish, white amur, carp and carp. For the people of the surrounding villages, fishing is both a way to feed a family and the main source of income. Several industrial enterprises engaged in fishing are located right on the shore of the lake. However, due to the fact that the populations of some fish species have begun to decline, the authorities of the region annually limit the fishing period on the Cahul.