In Turkey, where the hottest period of the last 53 years has been experienced, lakes are also literally dying. While lakes are most affected by the temperature increase due to global climate change, the ‘Lakes Region’ in the Mediterranean Region is literally sounding the alarm. While the area of the main basin of Lake Burdur and the 5 lakes in its sub-basins has decreased by 51.1 percent in the last 36 years, the latest images reflected from Lake Eğirdir shed light on the ongoing disaster. The water width in the narrowest part of the lake, the Kemer Strait, has shrunk from 1.8 kilometers to 1.2 kilometers, while the depth has dropped to 50-60 centimeters at some points.
THE POLLUTION PROBLEM DOES NOT END
On the other hand, in the recent period, Burdur Lake has shrunk by 40.1 percent, Acıgöl by 80.6 percent, Karataş Lake by 64.8 percent, Yarışlı Lake by 49.7 percent, and Salda Lake by 5 percent, while Akgöl has completely dried up. In addition to the Lakes Region, the amount of water in Mogan Lake, Manyas Lake, Salt Lake and Sapanca Lake is also decreasing day by day. There is a pollution problem in Van Lake, Turkey’s largest lake. The water source, which is considered the largest soda lake on earth and is known as the “Van Sea” by the local people, is becoming more and more polluted in terms of pH and salinity.
WITHDRAWN FROM THE COASTS
Stating that Lake Burdur has decreased from 230 km² to 90 km² in 40 years, former DSI director and Minister of Water Policies Association Dursun Yıldız drew attention to the fact that 60 percent of nearly 300 large and small lakes have dried up, and said, “In addition to Ereğli and Hotamış Marshes, Seyfe, Tersakan and Eşmekaya, Akşehir, Acıgöl, Beyşehir, Göl Marmara, Meke, Yarışlı lakes have also largely dried up. The water level in Burdur, Eber, Eğirdir, Seydişehir lakes has decreased and retreated from the shores. Lake Beyşehir has decreased from 26 meters to 6 meters, and Lake Eğirdir has decreased from 14 meters to 5 meters.”
57 percent of the lakes in Turkey are tectonic, 38 percent are alluvial, 19 percent are karst, and the rest are crater, glacier and landslide-set lakes. Yıldız added, “The qualitative and quantitative deterioration of conditions in lakes is mainly meteorological due to climate change.”
BOTTOM MUDDLE IS INCREASING
Dr. Erol Kesici, Science Advisor for the Turkish Nature Conservation Association, drew attention to the importance of Lake Eğirdir, and stated that millions of people consume agricultural products from the lake basin. Kesici, who also drew attention to the pollution in the lakes, said the following: “The water level of Lake Eğirdir has decreased by almost 70 percent in recent years. There is an excessive increase in bottom mud. The main reason for product losses in agricultural production is the wild irrigation in the basin.”
PLANNING MUST BE DONE
In the report titled “Our Water Management Problems and Solution Proposals in Natural Lakes and Wetlands” prepared by the Water Policies Association, the following is stated for the situation of lakes in Turkey: “The main problems encountered in natural lakes and wetlands in our country are the decrease in water quantity, the threat to biodiversity and the deterioration in water quality. Although there are 76 registered wetlands, only 24 of them have a wetland water management plan. It is stated that the water management plans of other wetlands need to be completed in coordination with the basin water management plan preparations.
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