Lake Assad

Lake Assad بحيرة الأسد
Lake Assad (left), Tabqa Dam (centre), and Baath Dam (right). The photo was taken on STS-78, June 1996. North is in the upper left corner of the image.
Lake Assad بحيرة الأسد
Map of the wider Lake Assad region
Location	Raqqa Governorate
Coordinates	36°00′N 38°10′E / 36.000°N 38.167°E / 36.000; 38.167
Type	reservoir
Primary inflows	Euphrates
Primary outflows	Euphrates
Basin countries	Syria, Turkey
Built	1968
First flooded	1974
Max. length	80 km (50 mi)
Max. width	8 km (5 mi)
Surface area	525 km2 (203 sq mi)
Water volume	10 km3 (2.4 cu mi)
Islands	Jazirat al-Thawrah
Settlements	Al-Thawrah

Lake Assad (Arabic: بحيرة الأسد, Buhayrat al-Assad) is a reservoir on the Euphrates in Raqqa Governorate, Syria. It was created in 1974 when construction of the Tabqa Dam was completed. Lake Assad is Syria's largest lake, with a maximum capacity of 11.7 cubic kilometres (2.8 cu mi) and a maximum surface area of 525 square kilometres (203 sq mi). A vast network of canals uses water from Lake Assad to irrigate lands on both sides of the Euphrates. In addition, the lake provides drinking water for the city of Aleppo and supports a fishing industry. The shores of Lake Assad have developed into important ecological zones.