Lake Tuz, also known as Tuz Gölü, meaning ‘Salt Lake’ in Turkish, and anciently called Tatta (Ancient Greek: Τάττα, Latin: Tatta Lacus), is the second largest lake in Turkey, covering a surface area of 1,665 km² (643 sq mi). It’s also among the world’s biggest hypersaline lakes. The distances of Konya, 150 km (93 mi) south-southeast of Ankara, and Aksaray, 57 km (35 mi) northwest, are the locations of Lake Tuz and Konya, respectively. It is located in the Central Anatolia Region. In recent years, Lake Tuz has gained popularity as a tourist destination. However, in October 2021, the lake temporarily dried up completely due to water mismanagement and climate change.
The lake has no outlet and is fed by two main streams—surface water and groundwater—and is located in a geological depression on Turkey’s central plateau. Where streams and canals reach the lake, brackish wetlands have developed. Except in the south and southwest, where a large area of seasonally flooded salt steppe exists, encircling the lake. For most of the year, Lake Tuz is shallow, approximately 0.4 meters (1 ft) deep. Salt dissolves in the freshwater introduced by precipitation and surface runoff during winter, leading to a salinity 324‰. In summer, the lake dries up, exposing a salt layer averaging 30 cm thick in August. This salt layer is the basis for the salt mines in the lake, which produce 63% of Turkey’s salt.
Lake Tuz’s formation began during the Upper Senonian-Lower Middle Eocene, followed by a regression starting in the upper Eocene and continuing until the end of the Oligocene. During the Pliocene period, the lake basin became a graben bounded by northwest and northeast fault zones. The Tuz Gölü Basin contains a unique geological structure with a continuous salt layer of different densities extending for 1,000 meters, ensuring the continuity of salt production. The basin has a 10 km-thick stack of sediments from the Upper Cretaceous, including shale, sandstone, pebble stone, and limestone. The area also experienced volcanic activity due to tension movements during the Neogene and Pliocene periods.
The basin of Lake Tuz is influenced by a cold semi-arid (BSk) and humid continental (Dsa and Dsb) climate. The northern areas, such as Kulu, are wetter and show humid continental characteristics, while southern areas like Çumra, Aksaray, and Karapınar have a steppe climate. The average yearly precipitation is 324 mm, making it one of the driest regions in Turkey.
Anciently known as Tatta, Lake Tuz was located on the frontiers between ancient Lycaonia and Galatia, initially belonging to Phrygia. Ancient reports described its waters as highly saline, instantly encrusting any dipped substance with salt. Historically, the lake was much larger and freshwater, supporting early civilizations like the Hittites and Anatolian people. The region began transforming into its current steppe form after the last Ice Age, between 11,000 and 5,000 years ago.
In 2001, Lake Tuz was declared a specially protected area, including the lake surface, surrounding waterbeds, and steppe areas. The lake hosts the main Turkish breeding colony of greater flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus) on a group of islands in its southern part. The greater white-fronted goose (Anser albifrons) is the second-largest breeder, and the lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni) commonly breeds in the surrounding villages.