Lake Yalpuh

The name of the lake comes from the river, which was probably named by the Polovtsians. In the Polovtsian language, the adjective jalpy meant "wide, sprawling", "ahead, shallow". ==Geography==

The lake is located on the Black Sea Lowland, on the left bank of the Danube. Yalpuh is northern shores are in Bolhrad Raion. It borders Izmail Raion to its southwest and southeast. The largest town on Yalpuh's shores is Bolhrad at its northernmost point. Larger villages include Vynohradivka to the north, Kotlovyna to the west and Ozerne on its southeastern shore. It covers an area of 149 km², has an average depth of about two metres, a maximum depth of 5.5 metres and, at its southernmost point, adjoins Lake Kugurluy. Two rivers, Yalpug and Karasulak, flow into the lake. By its origin, Lake Yalpug belongs to the group of river lakes. The shores of the lake were formed as a result of long-term historical and geological development and the rise in the level of the World Ocean, which created conditions for the rise of water in the Danube. The lake basin was formed as a result of the flooding of the floodplain and part of the banks of the Yalpug River, a left tributary of the Danube. Lake Yalpug experiences several freezes and thaws during the winter season. The water level in the lake fluctuates seasonally: minimum in winter and autumn, maximum in spring and summer. The lake is significantly replenished by Danube waters during the spring flood. The amplitude of the water level fluctuation in the lake is up to 360 cm. ==Human use==

The continuation of Lake Yalpug in the south is Lake Kuhurlui. Between these lakes in the 70s of the 20th century, a dam, which were built to protect the areas adjacent to the river from flooding and regulate the water level in the lakes (in the interests of agriculture). along which The Izmail-Reni road was built along the dam. After the construction of the dam, the water exchange between Lake Yalpug and Kugurluy decreased by almost a third. The territory around the lake is covered with vineyards, orchards and agricultural fields. Agricultural enterprises of the Bolgrad and Izmail districts of the Odessa region use the lake water for their needs. In the summer season, the lake level decreases due to irrigated fields. In 2021-2022, due to drought and high air temperatures, the water level on the lake was very low — 1.4 meters. Bolgrad district of Odessa region uses water from Lake Yalpug for domestic and industrial needs. The lake is used for fish farming, recreation, and in the summer months water is taken for irrigation purposes. ==Ecology==

The content of detected substances in the lake waters in 2024 did not exceed the established environmental quality standards, only the content of pesticides and polyaromatic hydrocarbons exceeded the average annual permissible concentrations. ==Conservation==

On the shores of Lake Yalpug in the city of Bolgrad, there is a park-monument of local significance. In the summer of 2020, the Odesa regional administration announced the creation of a project for a landscape national park on lakes Kugurluy and Yalpug. ==Gallery==

File:Lake Yalpuh, Bolgrad 1.jpg|Bolgrad, City Park, by Lake Yalpug File:FISHING ALL YEAR ROUND 12-03-11 - panoramio.jpg|Yalpug in winter File:Вл4.jpg|Yalpug lake shore File:Дерев'яний пірс, Болград.jpg|Lake Yalpuh == References ==