BEYŞEHİR LAKE

Located in the Lake District, it is the largest freshwater lake in Turkey. Beyşehir Lake holds a special place among our lakes with its wildlife, natural beauty, and historical value; its beautiful blue color, numerous islands of varying sizes, sandy beaches, karst caves, and unspoiled vegetation make it one of the most beautiful lakes in Turkey. The southern and northern shores of the lake are shallow, with its deepest point reaching 10 meters. The fish species found in the lake include carp, perch, velvet fish, whitefish, and mirror carp. Beyşehir Lake offers unique opportunities for birdwatching. The lake area exhibits transitional characteristics between the Mediterranean and Central Anatolian climates. Because the lake surface freezes partially or completely in winter, it is not a good wintering area for birds. However, in September and October, ducks, gulls, kingfishers, cormorants, storks, and seagulls form groups exceeding ten thousand. With the addition of coots and geese, the total bird population in the lake exceeds fifty thousand by the end of October. The islands are relatively free from hunting pressure and human activities, making them important feeding and breeding grounds for cormorants, herons, gulls, and birds of prey. The first known nesting colonies of the Crested Pelican were identified on the islands of Lake Beyşehir. For storks, the Yeşildağ settlement, located 30 km from Beyşehir, also provides a special nesting area.