{{Short description|Crater lake in Turkey}} {{Infobox lake | name = Lake Salda | image = Lake Salda in June 2020.jpg | alt = Lake Salda in June 2020 | caption = Lake Salda in June 2020 | image_bathymetry = | caption_bathymetry = | location = | coords = {{coord|37|33|N|29|41|E|type:waterbody_region:TR|display=inline,title}} | type = | inflow = |pushpin_map=Turkey | outflow = | catchment = | basin_countries = Turkey | length = | width = | area = {{convert|43.70|km2|abbr=on}} | depth = | max-depth = {{convert|196|m|abbr=on}} | volume = | residence_time = | shore = | elevation = {{convert|1316|m|abbr=on}}<ref name="ormn">{{Cite web | title = Salda Gölü | url = https://issuu.com/yildiraylise/docs/salda_kitap | publisher = Orman ve Su İşleri Bakanlığı | accessdate = 29 September 2018 | archive-date = 13 October 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181013174947/https://issuu.com/yildiraylise/docs/salda_kitap | url-status = dead }}</ref> | frozen = | islands = | cities = Salda }} '''Lake Salda''' is a mid-size [[Volcanic crater lake|crater lake]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Salda Lake – Antalya: All You Need To Know {{!}} Things to do Antalya |url=https://www.thingstodoantalya.com/en/salda-lake |access-date=2022-06-02 |website=www.thingstodoantalya.com |archive-date=2021-12-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211203100504/https://www.thingstodoantalya.com/en/salda-lake |url-status=dead }}</ref> in southwestern [[Turkey]], within the boundaries of [[Yeşilova]] district of [[Burdur Province]]. It lies at a distance of about {{cvt|50|km}} to the west from the province seat [[Burdur]].
Lake Salda is often included in the [[Turkish Lakes Region]] that extends across inner western to southern [[Anatolia]], especially [[Isparta Province]] and [[Afyonkarahisar Province]], although Lake Salda is geographically separate from the larger lakes, which are more to the east and, being a crater lake, is morphologically different from these tectonic lakes.
The lake area covers {{cvt|4370|ha|sqmi}}, and its depth reaches {{cvt|196|m}}, making it one of the deepest lakes in Turkey. The lake sedimentary records show high resolution climate changes that are related to solar variability during the last millennium.<ref>Danladi, I. B., & Akçer-Ön, S. (2017). Solar forcing and climate variability during the past millennium as recorded in a high altitude lake: Lake Salda (SW Anatolia). ''Quaternary International''</ref>
The lake is a popular excursion spot for people across the region or from beyond, the more so due to the [[hydromagnesite]] mineral found in its coastal waters, which is believed to offer remedies for certain [[dermatology|dermatological]] diseases. The shorelines, surrounded by [[European Black Pine|black pine]] forests, are also popular among hunters, the game and the fowl available including [[quail]]s, [[hare]]s, [[fox]]es, [[boar]]s and wild [[duck]]s, aside from the lake's fish. White sandy beaches, limpid water and seven crystal-white islets within the lake complete the scenery.
A township that starts almost at the shore to the southwest of the lake carries the same name, Salda. The local administrative seat of [[Yeşilova]] is located to the east of the lake at a distance of about four kilometers and Yeşilova municipality manages the lake's camping facilities.
Its peculiar morphology has led to a number of academic studies conducted on Lake Salda. The unusual alkaline nature of the lake means that is one of the few locations where ancient [[stromatolite]] algae still grows.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://jsedres.sepmonline.org/cgi/content/abstract/66/5/991 |title = Hydromagnesite stromatolites and sediments in an alkaline lake, Salda Golu, Turkey|author=C. J. R. Braithwaite ([[University of Glasgow]], Department of Geology and Applied Geology) – Veysel Zedef [[Selçuk University]], [[Konya]]|publisher= Journal of Sedimentary Research – V. 66; no. 5; p. 991–1002|date=September 1996}}</ref>
==Microbialites from Lake Salda in the search for extraterrestrial life== [[File:PIA24374-Mars-SearchForLife-LakeSaldaTurkey-20210127.jpg|thumb|[[Microbialite]]s in Lake Salda rocks have been studied by [[NASA]] scientists for the discovery of life on [[Mars]]<ref name="NASA-Salda"/><ref name="NASA-Salda-2"/><ref name="Salda-Reuters"/>]]
In 2019, a team of planetary scientists from the United States and Turkey conducted research on Lake Salda's shoreline [[microbialite]] sediments. The rocks along the shoreline of Lake Salda were formed over time by microbes that trap minerals and sediments in the water.<ref name="NASA-Salda">{{cite web|url=https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/images/lake-salda-rocks|title=Lake Salda Rocks|website=jpl.nasa.gov|publisher=[[NASA]]|date=27 January 2021}}</ref><ref name="NASA-Salda-2">{{cite web|url=https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/searching-for-life-in-nasas-perseverance-mars-samples|title=Searching for Life in NASA's Perseverance Mars Samples|website=jpl.nasa.gov|publisher=[[NASA]]|date=17 February 2021}}</ref> These microbialites were once a major form of life on Earth and provide some of the oldest known fossilized records of life on our planet.<ref name="NASA-Salda"/><ref name="NASA-Salda-2"/> [[NASA]]'s [[Mars 2020]] mission [[Perseverance (rover)|Perseverance]] [[Mars rover|rover]] searches for signs of ancient life on the surface of [[Mars]].<ref name="NASA-Salda"/><ref name="NASA-Salda-2"/> Studying these microbial fossils from Lake Salda has helped scientists prepare for the mission.<ref name="NASA-Salda"/><ref name="NASA-Salda-2"/> In March 2021, NASA reported that its Mars surface-exploring rover Perseverance showed that "the minerals and rock deposits at Lake Salda are the nearest match on Earth to those around the [[Jezero (crater)|Jezero Crater]] where the spacecraft landed."<ref name="Salda-Reuters">{{cite news|last1=Dikmen|first1=Yesim|title=Mars on Earth: Turkish lake may hold clues to ancient life on planet|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-space-exploration-mars-turkey-idUSKBN2B10N7|work=Reuters |date=9 March 2021}}</ref>
==Lake Salda National Park== Hoping to protect the Lake Salda area, Turkey's environmental authority has launched a national park project. The Lake Salda National Park is currently under construction and is scheduled to be completed in 2023.
A 24-hour livestream of the lake can be seen on its official website.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://saldagolu.gov.tr/saldagolu/canli.html|title=Salda Gölü #Canlı|publisher=Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change|website=Salda Gölü}}</ref> ==Gallery==
{{Gallery | title = | align = | footer = | style = | state = | height = | width = | captionstyle = | File:Lake_Salda_Nature_Park_1.jpg | alt1= | The coast of Lake Salda has been declared a natural reserve after some environmental concerns | File: Lake_Salda_.jpg | alt2= | Lake Salda | File: Salda Gölü 2.jpg | alt3= | Lake Salda | File: Saldives_Reflection.jpg | alt4= | Lake Salda }}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Lakes of Turkey}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Salda}} [[Category:Yeşilova District]] [[Category:Lakes of Turkey]] [[Category:Volcanic crater lakes]] [[Category:Endorheic lakes of Asia]] [[Category:Landforms of Burdur Province]] [[Category:Important Bird Areas of Turkey]]