# Tobavarchkhili (Silver Lake)
- URL: https://explore-georgia.ge/en/places/tobavarchkhili
- Type: place to visit
- Region: Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti
- Coordinates: 42.78412, 42.24291

Tobavarchkhili, in Mingrelian the "Silver Lake", is a lake of glacial cirque type in Tsalenjikha Municipality, on the southern slope of the Egrisi range at 2,650 metres above sea level. Its surface covers 0.21 square kilometres and its catchment 1.12, its greatest depth is 35 metres and its mean depth 15.8, and it holds 3.3 million cubic metres of water. The lake is fed by snow, rain and groundwater and has an outflow; the water level is low in winter and high in July, the water is fresh, and the lake has no fish. In the same part of the Egrisi range lie several smaller glacial lakes, Didi Toba Varchkhili, Chipsta Varchkhili and others, known together as the Tobavarchkhili lakes.

In Georgian mythology the Silver Lake was held in particular awe, and everyone avoided stopping near it. By tradition a rich shepherd was once held up with his flock at the lake by fog; he sacrificed his best ram to God, prayed and stayed the night, and at midnight a golden-fleeced ram rose from the lake and covered the flock, so that at lambing every ewe bore a golden-fleeced lamb. A second, envious shepherd, who begrudged the ram and prayed without sincerity, tried the same: the golden-fleeced ram that rose at midnight led his flock into the water, and the lake swallowed every sheep.

## History

The legend of the lake is recorded in Zurab Kiknadze's "Georgian Mythology" (2007). The lake was held in such awe that everyone avoided stopping near it, even the shepherds who drove their flocks past.

The lake is described in volume 10 of the Georgian Soviet Encyclopaedia (1986), in an article by I. Apkhazava. Today the trail from Mukhuri past the Tobavarchkhili lakes to Khaishi in Svaneti is one of the most popular trekking routes in Georgia.

## Visit info

No road reaches the lake. The usual route starts in the village of Mukhuri in Chkhorotsku Municipality: local drivers take hikers by off-road vehicle over the first 22 kilometres, about two hours, and the remaining 12 kilometres are covered on foot or on horseback; the full crossing from Mukhuri past the lakes to Khaishi in Svaneti is 75 kilometres and takes five to six days of walking. The best period is July to September, and hiring a certified guide who knows the route well is recommended.

## Tips

Allow a spare day for bad weather on top of the walking days, and hire a guide who knows the route well.

## Safety

At 2,650 metres the weather changes fast, even in summer, and the water is ice-cold. The trail runs through remote country, so carry everything you need and tell someone your route.

## Sources

- [Tobavarchkhili — Georgian Wikipedia](https://ka.wikipedia.org/wiki/ტობავარჩხილი)
- [Tobavarchkhili Lake — Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11021128)
- [Mukhuri - Tobavarchkhili Lakes - Khaishi — Georgia Travel](https://georgia.travel/mukhuri-tobavarchkhili-lakes-khaishi)

## This page in other languages

- [ქართული](https://explore-georgia.ge/ka/adgilebi/tobavarchkhili)
- [Русский](https://explore-georgia.ge/ru/mesta/tobavarchkhili)