Lakes Qaban

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Lakes Qaban
Nearby Qaban from the enbankment of the Kamal theatre
Lake type	Volga riverbed + karst processes
Primary outflows	Bolaq
Max length	5575 m (Nearby+Remote); 1030 m (Upper)
Max width	350 m
Surface area	1.86 km²
Max depth	12.5 m
Water volume	11,8 mln. m³
Residence time (of lake water)	several thousand years
Surface elevation	51
Settlements	Kazan

Lakes Qaban, the system of lakes in Kazan, Tatarstan, Russia includes Birge (Nearby) Qaban, Arğı (Remote) Qaban and Yuğarı (Upper) Qaban. With an area of 1.86 km², it is the biggest lake in Tatarstan.

It is connected with the Qazansu River by the Bolaq channel and a subterranean channel from Bolaq-Qazansu. It is also connected with the Volga river by the city's sewage system.

The medieval Volga Bulgarians' graves which date back to 12-13th century were founded on the banks of Arğı Qaban.

One legend claims that, in the days before the Khanate of Kazan fell, the Khans threw all their valuables into the lakes.

Another legend about the origin of the lakes names claims that, at the Mongol invasion of Volga Bulgaria, the Bulgarian prince Qabanbäk, escaped from Bilär city (or in Bolghar), fled to the banks of the lake and built a castle. Another version is that he founded İske Qazan.

Tatar myth also places Zilant, who had been transformed to Diü, as the ruler of the mythological Underwater Kingdom of Qaban.

A more recent legend claims that, during the chaos of the 1917 Russian Revolution and Kazan Operation the Tatar capitalists threw their valuables into the lakes.