In the heart of Kakheti, near the quaint village of Arashenda, you'll stumble upon a shimmering body of water, which, at first glance, might seem like a well-preserved secret of Mother Nature. But, the tale of the Lakbe Reservoir, or Lakbi as some locals call it, is one of human ambition meeting nature's persistence.
Conceived in the vibrant 1980s, this reservoir was born from the damming of the Lakbe river. Originally designed to be the savior of the Shirak Valley, meant to provide it with an endless supply of irrigation water, destiny had other plans. The reservoir's construction halted before it could be completed, letting nature take over and craft it into what seems like a pristine natural lake today. Dive in, and you might touch depths of up to 22 meters (about 72 feet).
The surroundings further heighten the reservoir’s allure. Adjacent lies the mystical Pkhoveli forest, a place where the trees whisper tales of the unique acidic waters and mineral-rich mud that flow beneath them. Legends say that these have healing properties—so, a day at the reservoir could very well mean rejuvenation for both the body and the soul.
Now, while humans did introduce the common and bighead carp to the waters, it's the chub that decided to call the reservoir home, swimming in from the river. If you're a fish enthusiast, there's still so much more to discover about the ichthyofauna here.
