Turkey is home to over 100 breathtaking lakes, each offering its unique natural charm. Thanks to the country’s rich and diverse geography, these lakes are perfect for nature lovers, photographers, and anyone looking for peaceful escapes. From crater lakes to high-altitude freshwater basins, Turkey’s most beautiful lakes promise unforgettable views and relaxing outdoor experiences.
Let’s explore the top lakes in Turkey that you should add to your travel bucket list.
Located between the provinces of Van and Bitlis, Lake Van is a lake formed as a result of volcanic eruptions, where blue and green coexist. Lake Van, the world's largest soda lake and Turkey's largest lake, is home to pearl mullets, an endemic fish species... There is a magnificent historical church on Akdamar Island in the lake. Lake Van takes its name from Van, the capital of the Urartu Kingdom, and there are 4 islands in the eastern part. These islands are historical and touristic, and there is a 3 thousand year old Urartian castle in Lake Van.
What distinguishes Isikli Lake in Civril, Denizli, from other lakes and makes it popular are the water lilies that cover its surface for three months of the year... The water lilies, which start to appear on the water surface from June, stay until mid-August and offer magnificent views. You can take an hour-long mini tour with small boats departing from the shore of the lake. The lake, which is home to many bird species, shows an annual variation of up to 3 meters in depth due to its use for irrigation in terrestrial agriculture in summer. The lake is also a regulator.
Source: Turna.com
Salda Lake is often referred to as “Turkey's Maldives”. This paradise welcomes thousands of visitors every year. Salda Lake attracts attention not only with its beauty but also with its different features. This lake, which NASA stated that it has similar characteristics to the Jezero Crater on the surface of Mars, is also a great curiosity for scientists. It has been determined that there are 301 aquatic and terrestrial plant species belonging to 81 families in the Salda Lake basin. The most important of these species is the endemic Verbascum dudleyanum (Salda marsh mullein), and the other endemic species is Verbascum flabellifolium.
Turkey's third-largest natural lake, Beysehir Lake is located in Konya and is home to many bird species. It impresses with the magnificent view of the Taurus Mountains surrounding it. Beysehir Lake is also famous for its floating islands. These small floating islets make the viewers feel as if the islets on the lake are dancing with the effect of the wind. Beysehir Lake is one of the most beautiful lakes of our country with its Seljuk artifacts such as Esrefoglu Mosque, the beautiful blue color of the lake intertwined with history, large and small islands, sandy beaches, karst caves and unspoiled vegetation.
Karagol in Artvin Borcka is another paradise surrounded by lush green forests and hidden among the mountains... The Murgul stream was formed as an embankment lake, and over time, together with the surrounding forests and high mountains, this unique, picturesque lake was formed. The lake has a story; the place where Karagol is located was once a village. The prophet Hıızr came to the village disguised as a beggar and asked for help. No one helped him except a woman. The prophet Hızır took this woman with him and left the village, and the village sank into the water, and the people living in the village became fish. Since the color of the water of the lake formed where the village sank was black, the lake was called Karagöl.
Lake Egirdir in Isparta is a freshwater lake formed by tectonic and karstic effects. This natural beauty, which bears the title of being the fourth largest lake in Turkey, continues to fascinate those who have been coming for centuries. Two wonderful islands, such as Egirdir Castle, Yeşilada and Can Ada, located on the edge of the lake, are worth seeing. On these islands, where Greeks once lived, there are structures bearing the traces of the past and history.
Lake Abant, located in the Abant National Park of the same name in Bolu, surrounded by forests, is a popular place, especially for weekend getaways. If you want to witness the gorgeous colors in Abant, which is admired in every season, be sure to add the place to your list. “Abant Niluferi” is a special plant species that grows naturally in Lake Abant. You can visit the Visitor Information Center and the Nature Museum at the entrance of the Nature Park (free of charge), you can visit the surroundings of the lake by car or by renting bicycles and buggies, and you can walk or picnic around the lake. Camping lovers can also camp or stay in a caravan.
Cildir Lake, located between Ardahan and Kars, is beautiful in the spring months, but is especially known for its freezing surface in the winter months. Hidden in the high plateaus of Eastern Anatolia, this fascinating lake is covered with crystal ice in winter... The most important of the most famous winter activities of Cildir Lake, which offers a unique snow experience to its visitors, is of course horse-drawn sleighing... You can admire the snow-covered landscape around you while you slide breathtakingly on the surface of the frozen lake.
Located between Kocaeli and Sakarya, Sapanca Lake is a natural beauty, especially famous for its proximity to Istanbul. It welcomes thousands of visitors every year. The green hills around Sapanca Lake, which consist of the most beautiful colors of nature, are beautiful every season of the year... Sapanca, which is one of the ideal routes for both weekend getaways and long-term holidays due to its location, will be a special expreince for you.
Lake Uzun, the pearl of the Black Sea, is a natural wonder lake in Trabzon's Tonya district. The lake, which takes its name from its 1 kilometer length, fascinates those who see it with its high mountains and dense forest areas around it. Lake Uzun, which is a popular place for local and foreign tourists, has a very high tourist potential. Those who come to visit the lake can enjoy natural activities such as bird watching, hiking in Trabzon's highest Haldizen valley, botanical tours, and see the original wooden village houses of traditional Black Sea architecture.