Kow Ata Undergraund Lake

Kow Ata, also known as The Bakharlyn, is an underground lake located in a cave near Bäherden, Turkmenistan, at the base of the Kopet Dag. It is the largest underground lake in the Commonwealth of Independent States. The lake was first documented by archaeologists in 1856, and a local press report in 1896 highlighted the installation of a wooden staircase for safe access, attracting tourists from Ashgabat. In the 1960s, a road was built to the cave, electricity was added, and nearby hotels were constructed.