Nurek

NUREK – POWER CENTRE OF TAJIKISTAN

Nurek is situated 68 km southeast from Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, on the blank of the turbulent Vakhsh River. The town has gone up in place of a small village. The construction of the largest in Tajikistan Nurek Power Plant started in 1961 and the first power unit was commissioned in 1972. The power plant reached its design capacity in 1979. It comprises nine 300   300-MW hydropower units. Unique rotary valves capable  of taking a dynamic head of 400 m are mounted at the turbine inlets. The power plant is equipped with vertical Francis turbines having a runner diameter of 4,74 m.

*NUREK -*The world’s tallest dam at Nurek

   
Nurek  is undeniably a fascinating and beautiful place to visit. Nurek, is situated to south-east several hours drive from Dushanbe through dramatic barren hills. Founded in 1961 next to the Vakhsh River, Nurek is an extraordinary Soviet time warp and home to the world’s tallest dam, at 300m high, which still supplies Tajikistan with most of its electricity. 
      Drive to the top of the dam to enjoy a spectacular view of the crystal clear waters surrounded by a backdrop of jagged  red  rock  hills.

The main sight on Nurek’s outskirts is, of course, the 310-m clay-core gravel-fill dam, the volume of which is 56 million cubic meters. It blocked the turbulent Vakhsh in the narrowest part of Pulisangin Gorge where the river thundered and foamed as if to justify its name (“vakhsh” means “wild”, “indomitable”).

The river is only 525 km long, but thanks to its steep gradient (850 meters), it is tenth among C.I.S. rivers in its energy potential.

The irrigation and power generating hydraulic complex has been constructed to create a reservoir affording seasonal and partial long-term regulation of the Vakhsh and Amudarya rivers, which is necessary for irrigation, power generation, and water transport. The Nurek reservoir has made it possible to greatly extend the irrigated areas in the Southern cotton-growing regions of Central Asia.

The Nurek water reservoir is 70 km long and from two to five km wide. Its pure, transparent water is sometimes aquamarine as if it has   imbibed in all the colors of morning sky and the purity of the Pamir’s glaciers where the Vakhsh River begins.

The Nurek dam is spectacular. The deep blue reservoir is a good place for swim and relaxation if you want to escape the heat in Dushanbe or when you come from the Pamirs or southern Tajikistan. There are several tracks leading down to the lake about 15 km south of Nurek, beyond the Sebiston Pass. On the bank of the reservoir there are some basic resorts that might have boats for rent.

Dushanbe and Nurek are connected by asphalt road. There is a hotel in the town.

Special permission is required to travel to the Nurek Power Plant from the Ministry of Internal Affairs if arriving by yourself.

*NUREK

*The world’s tallest dam at Nurek
Nurek  is undeniably a fascinating and beautiful place to visit. Nurek, is situated to south-east several hours drive from Dushanbe through dramatic barren hills. Founded in 1961 next to the Vakhsh River, Nurek is an extraordinary Soviet time warp and home to the world’s tallest dam, at 300m high, which still supplies Tajikistan with most of its electricity. 
Drive to the top of the dam to enjoy a spectacular view of the crystal clear waters surrounded by a backdrop of  jagged red rock hills

Note: The Anzob pass connecting north and south   part   Tajikistan  closes in  the autumn. Access between  Khujand/Penjikent  and Dushanbe is possible by air, or by taking a long and circuitous route  through Uzbekistan.

Photogallery