Kürü keçək?!

The annual open water event in Mingachevir offers two distinct distances, 350 meters and 1000 meters, typically held in August. Organized by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Azerbaijan Swimming Federation, and the Baku City Circuit Operations Company, the competition sees swimmers navigate the waters of the Kura River, a site with a layered history. While modern participants focus on their stroke, they swim across a landscape shaped by 1948 hydroelectric projects, which were constructed through the forced labor of approximately 10,000 German prisoners of war; their presence is still marked in the city by a dedicated cemetery containing 828 graves.

Visual landmarks and the water

As you sight your path, the skyline is dominated by the industrial silhouette of the Azerbaijan Thermal Power Plant, featuring two massive chimneys that reach 320 meters into the air. Turning toward the banks, you will notice the southeast ridge of the Bozdag Mountain chain providing a rugged geological frame for the course. Your progress is monitored from the 185-meter-long road bridge, a primary vantage point for the event. The water environment itself is influenced by a local fish farm established in 2008, which manages populations of carp, silver carp, and sturgeon within the reservoir system. This stretch of the river is also noted for a 1st-century BC conflict, where a historical battle between the Roman army of Pompey and the local forces of the Albanian governor Oris is said to have occurred near the current dam site. The event welcomes a broad age demographic, from 12-year-olds to swimmers over 71, reflecting the sustained local engagement with these river waters.