Tuz Gölü (Salt Lake) Overview
Duration
8 HOURSCountry
TurkeyMaximum Traveller
15Min Pax
1Location: 120 km (75 miles) south of Ankara, on the way to Cappadocia
Elevation: 905 meters (2970 feet)
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Size
Second largest lake in Turkey, covering 1,500 square kilometers (580 square miles). In summer, the surface can reduce to a thousand square kilometers (386 square miles).
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Width
48 kilometers (30 miles)
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Length
80 kilometers (50 miles)
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Depth
1.2 meters (3.6 feet)
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Water
Salt water
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Salinity
With a salinity level of 33%, Tuz Gölü is one of the world's saltiest lakes, making farming in the surrounding areas impossible.
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Salt Production
Tuz Gölü is one of the richest salt lakes globally, producing 300 thousand tons of salt annually, which accounts for 60% of Turkey's total production.
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Salt Harvesting
The salt can only be collected in July and August when the lake dries. It is gathered from areas where the salt layer exceeds 6 centimeters in thickness.
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Geological Background
Over two million years, the water level was approximately 100 meters higher. During severe droughts, the surface may be covered by salt blocks up to 20 inches thick.
Note: The lake's water sources, including the Melendiz River and Pecenekozu River, are insufficient to maintain its water levels throughout the year. In summer, evaporation leads to a significant reduction in water volume, resulting in a thick layer of salt covering the lakebed.