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Heavy rains and melting snow have brought Akgol, a shallow seasonal lake in the Ozalp district of Van province, back to life, ending the drought that left it dry last summer.
The lake covers about 407 hectares and has a 9-kilometer (5.59-mile) shoreline. Its shallow, clear water mirrors the sky and clouds, and some people compare it to Salt Lake in central Türkiye.
Snowy peaks and yellow wildflowers surround the lake, making it a popular spot for photographers and nature lovers.
Since the water is shallow everywhere, visitors can walk hundreds of meters into the lake. This unique experience attracts people who travel the 30 kilometers from the Ozalp district center.
Faruk Alaeddinoglu, a geography professor at Van Yuzuncu Yil University, said that this year's heavy rainfall in the Van Lake Basin has helped refill reservoirs, recharge groundwater, and bring water back to seasonal lakes in the region.
He explained that because Akgol is shallow, it reacts quickly to changes in rainfall.
“Van and the basin we are in is a geography rich in these types of lakes,” he said. "We saw the effects of the improvement in rainfall first in these lakes."
Alaeddinoglu also said that the lake's return helps support birds and other wildlife in the area and gives visitors an easily accessible natural spot.
The lake usually dries up every summer due to heat and evaporation, leaving behind barren land until the rains return. This year, more rain than usual has kept the lake full for longer and allowed more time for visits.
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