Ancient lake like 'on Mars'
To tourists, Lake Salda is known as the 'Maldives of Türkiye', and to scientists, it is the only place on Earth that resembles the Jezero crater on Mars.
Lake Salda has white sand, turquoise water, a visible bottom and is often promoted as the "Maldives of Türkiye". According to scientists, Lake Salda is the only place on Earth that resembles the Jerezo crater on Mars. The assertion of experts has helped Türkiye raise awareness of the environment surrounding this "treasure" given by nature. Salda today is facing threats from environmental pollution that is causing water levels to drop.
Briony Horgan, a professor in Purdue University's Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, traveled to Türkiye in 2019 with a NASA team to study the mysterious lake. Horgan was struck by how much the lake and its surroundings resembled outer space. "It's a truly unique place. I felt like I was standing on the shores of Lake Jerezo on Mars," Horgan said.
Nurgül Balci, a professor in the Department of Geological Engineering at Istanbul Technical University, is also involved in NASA's studies of Lake Salda. In addition to helping scientists better understand the geology of Mars, she said the lake also provides insights into Earth's history and requires greater protection. "The lake contains a lot of information that helps us understand how life began and evolved 3.5 billion years ago," said Balci.
In 2024, the International Geological Heritage Committee (IUGS) listed Lake Salda as one of the world’s top 100 geological sites. Balci provided a wealth of evidence for the lake’s inclusion on the list, including documentation that Salda contains important information about Mars and early Earth. If the lake were lost, we would have a hard time finding that information.
Many are optimistic that the inclusion in the IUGS top 100 will have a positive impact on the lake. Others are skeptical. Erol Kesici, a retired lecturer and scientific advisor to the Turkish Society for the Conservation of Nature, said that no matter how well protected the lake is, serious problems will arise. Excessive pollution and contamination from the construction of ponds and dams are destroying the lake’s ecosystem, its turquoise waters, and its endemic species.
Professor Horgan hopes the lake will be a place that many people visit and admire, but it is also a place that tourists and residents need to "respect responsibly".
The lake is home to more than 300 species of plants, including two endemic species, and more than 30 species of waterfowl, as well as lakeside animals such as wild boars and foxes. These features make Salda one of the best places in Türkiye for nature photography and hiking. The best time to visit the lake is spring and early summer, according to local guide Hasan Gülday, when the landscape around the lake is described as picturesque with lush green trees, white sand and turquoise waters.
However, visitors can visit the lake at any time of the year, including winter. The road to the nearby Salda ski center offers panoramic views of the lake and the surrounding area. The snowy scenery has been described by many visitors as "so beautiful that many people thought the photo had been edited".
In July and August, visitors can see fields of purple lavender by the lake, where locals make soap and perfumes to sell to tourists. Swimming is allowed, although many argue that the best way to protect the lake is to ban it. Kesici, the scientific adviser, opposes people going into the water because the lake is closed and all waste is left behind. Many visitors enjoy mud baths in the lake, believing it can cure certain skin diseases, but Kesici says the activity is also harmful to the lake's fragile ecosystem.
Lake Salda is located in Burdur, near the city of Denizli - home to another of the country's gems, Pamukkale, or Türkiye's "land of lakes." Guide Gülday also recommends visiting the ancient cities of Kibyra and Sagalassos, which are on UNESCO's Tentative List of World Heritage Sites.
Kibyra, a settlement dating back to the early Iron Age, is about a 1.5-hour drive from Salda. Sagalassos’s history dates back some 12,000 years, with its abandonment in the 6th century due to disease, raids and natural disasters such as earthquakes. Today, it is one of the best preserved archaeological sites in the country.
Tourists should choose to rent a car to conveniently explore the surrounding roads. From Antalya City, it takes tourists 2.5 hours to reach the lake. Local travel companies also provide tours here, giving tourists many options.