Lake Burdur

As drought continues to afflict the region, the receding shores of Lake Burdur have transformed into a playground for extreme sports enthusiasts. Located in the southwest of Türkiye, the shrinking lake has become a natural terrain for activities like enduro, off-roading and paragliding, drawing locals who seek adventure and relaxation against the backdrop of breathtaking scenery.

Two photographs, one taken in 2018 and the other this year, of Lake Burdur, have shown how Türkiye's seventh largest lake is disappearing.

The lake came to the country's agenda when, in 2018, photographer Tamer Yılmaz shot an aerial photo of two streams leaking from small puddles in the dying areas of the lake.

During a bird counting effort held in Lake Burdur, Turkey's seventh-largest lake whose surface has shrunk by 46 percent in the last 50 years, there was no trace of endangered ruddy duck.

Ruddy ducks became extinct in the region that once was a wintering ground for the species.

Ovine breeding, rather than bovine breeding, should be carried out in Turkey to save water and fight against climate change, as one of the deepest lakes in the country, Lake Burdur, has dried up by half in over half a century, experts have said.

According to daily Milliyet, which spoke to climate experts, the depth of the lake, which was once 60 meters, is around 18 meters today.

A pier at Turkey's seventh largest lake, located in the Mediterranean province of Burdur, has appeared to be standing on dry land after water ebbed significantly.

The water level of Lake Burdur has decreased by 17 meters in 50 years and the water volume has narrowed by 40 percent, officials said.

Support is pouring in to save Lake Burdur from disappearing ahead of a weekend gathering that will include events to draw attention to the environmental problems of the area over the week-end

A group of activists are organizing events in order to raise public awareness about the ecological problems affecting Lake Burdur, which is evaporating at an unprecedented rate.

Lake Burdur has become the stage of an exhibition by two artists, who on Aug. 25 danced inside its waters in an attempt to inspire officials to save it from drought.