# Lake Salda

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Crater lake in Turkey

Lake Salda Lake Salda in June 2020 Lake Salda Coordinates 37°33′N 29°41′E / 37.550°N 29.683°E / 37.550; 29.683 Basin countries Turkey Surface area 43.70 km2 (16.87 sq mi) Max. depth 196 m (643 ft) Surface elevation 1,316 m (4,318 ft)[1] Settlements Salda

**Lake Salda** is a mid-size [crater lake](/source/Volcanic_crater_lake)[2] in southwestern [Turkey](/source/Turkey), within the boundaries of [Yeşilova](/source/Ye%C5%9Filova) district of [Burdur Province](/source/Burdur_Province). It lies at a distance of about 50 km (31 mi) to the west from the province seat [Burdur](/source/Burdur).

Lake Salda is often included in the [Turkish Lakes Region](/source/Turkish_Lakes_Region) that extends across inner western to southern [Anatolia](/source/Anatolia), especially [Isparta Province](/source/Isparta_Province) and [Afyonkarahisar Province](/source/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 4,370 ha (16.9 sq mi), and its depth reaches 196 m (643 ft), 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.[3]

The lake is a popular excursion spot for people across the region or from beyond, the more so due to the [hydromagnesite](/source/Hydromagnesite) mineral found in its coastal waters, which is believed to offer remedies for certain [dermatological](/source/Dermatology) diseases. The shorelines, surrounded by [black pine](/source/European_Black_Pine) forests, are also popular among hunters, the game and the fowl available including [quails](/source/Quail), [hares](/source/Hare), [foxes](/source/Fox), [boars](/source/Boar) and wild [ducks](/source/Duck), 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](/source/Ye%C5%9Filova) 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](/source/Stromatolite) algae still grows.[4]

## Microbialites from Lake Salda in the search for extraterrestrial life

[Microbialites](/source/Microbialite) in Lake Salda rocks have been studied by [NASA](/source/NASA) scientists for the discovery of life on [Mars](/source/Mars)[5][6][7]

In 2019, a team of planetary scientists from the United States and Turkey conducted research on Lake Salda's shoreline [microbialite](/source/Microbialite) sediments. The rocks along the shoreline of Lake Salda were formed over time by microbes that trap minerals and sediments in the water.[5][6] 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.[5][6] [NASA](/source/NASA)'s [Mars 2020](/source/Mars_2020) mission [Perseverance](/source/Perseverance_(rover)) [rover](/source/Mars_rover) searches for signs of ancient life on the surface of [Mars](/source/Mars).[5][6] Studying these microbial fossils from Lake Salda has helped scientists prepare for the mission.[5][6] 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](/source/Jezero_(crater)) where the spacecraft landed."[7]

## 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.[8]

## Gallery

		- The coast of Lake Salda has been declared a natural reserve after some environmental concerns

		- Lake Salda

		- Lake Salda

		- Lake Salda

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ormn_1-0)** ["Salda Gölü"](https://web.archive.org/web/20181013174947/https://issuu.com/yildiraylise/docs/salda_kitap). Orman ve Su İşleri Bakanlığı. Archived from [the original](https://issuu.com/yildiraylise/docs/salda_kitap) on 13 October 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Salda Lake – Antalya: All You Need To Know | Things to do Antalya"](https://web.archive.org/web/20211203100504/https://www.thingstodoantalya.com/en/salda-lake). *www.thingstodoantalya.com*. Archived from [the original](https://www.thingstodoantalya.com/en/salda-lake) on 2021-12-03. Retrieved 2022-06-02.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** 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*

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** C. J. R. Braithwaite ([University of Glasgow](/source/University_of_Glasgow), Department of Geology and Applied Geology) – Veysel Zedef [Selçuk University](/source/Sel%C3%A7uk_University), [Konya](/source/Konya) (September 1996). ["Hydromagnesite stromatolites and sediments in an alkaline lake, Salda Golu, Turkey"](http://jsedres.sepmonline.org/cgi/content/abstract/66/5/991). Journal of Sedimentary Research – V. 66; no. 5; p. 991–1002.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_multiple_names:_authors_list))

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-NASA-Salda_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-NASA-Salda_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-NASA-Salda_5-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-NASA-Salda_5-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-NASA-Salda_5-4) ["Lake Salda Rocks"](https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/images/lake-salda-rocks). *jpl.nasa.gov*. [NASA](/source/NASA). 27 January 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-NASA-Salda-2_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-NASA-Salda-2_6-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-NASA-Salda-2_6-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-NASA-Salda-2_6-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-NASA-Salda-2_6-4) ["Searching for Life in NASA's Perseverance Mars Samples"](https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/searching-for-life-in-nasas-perseverance-mars-samples). *jpl.nasa.gov*. [NASA](/source/NASA). 17 February 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Salda-Reuters_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Salda-Reuters_7-1) Dikmen, Yesim (9 March 2021). ["Mars on Earth: Turkish lake may hold clues to ancient life on planet"](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-space-exploration-mars-turkey-idUSKBN2B10N7). *Reuters*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Salda Gölü #Canlı"](https://saldagolu.gov.tr/saldagolu/canli.html). *Salda Gölü*. Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Lake Salda](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Salda) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Salda?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.