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Rising waters at Uluabat Lake in northwestern Türkiye have transformed dozens of holiday structures into isolated houses surrounded by water, creating scenes reminiscent of the Hollywood film "The Lake House" as prolonged rainfall and melting snow continue to push floodwaters into residential areas near Bursa.
After nearly a month of uninterrupted rainfall combined with melting snow, the water level of Uluabat Lake rose significantly and spilled into the Karacabey Plain, an agricultural area known as part of the lake basin.
Despite construction restrictions in this protected zone, numerous tiny houses, hobby homes and bungalows had previously been built there, and many now stand partially submerged.
The flooding affected the Akcalar neighborhood in Bursa’s Nilufer district, where waters have yet to recede days after the initial overflow. As the lake expanded outward, it reached residential areas and cut off several access roads, while cultivated farmland was also left underwater.
Authorities and residents have been forced to adapt as daily life continues in newly flooded surroundings.
With the lake level rising by roughly 10 meters, floodwaters pushed past the shoreline and spread into the neighborhood.
Entire clusters of recreational buildings became encircled by water, making vehicle access impossible in some locations and forcing residents to rely on boats to reach certain properties.
Drone footage documented the scale of the flooding, showing how natural boundaries shifted as the lake spread across a wider area.
The resulting landscape closely resembled the famous lakeside setting portrayed in the 2006 Hollywood film The Lake House, where a home stands isolated in open water.
Meanwhile, rescue and recovery efforts have continued around damaged structures, as residents attempt to save belongings and secure properties.
As floodwaters linger, locals have tried to carry on with everyday routines while waiting for conditions to improve. Ducks were seen swimming through newly flooded areas, highlighting how parts of the neighborhood have effectively merged with the lake itself.
Some residents have moved animals and equipment to higher ground, while others return daily to check whether water levels have reached shelters or storage areas.
One tiny house owner described the flooding as unprecedented in recent years, saying, "It had not come like this for 10 years." This year, it flooded everywhere in a way we never expected."
He explained that animals were lost in the flooding and that surviving pets had to be relocated repeatedly as water levels kept creeping forward.
Drone images underscored how widely the waters have spread, revealing entire stretches of land now submerged and reinforcing the scale of Uluabat Lake’s expansion.
While residents continue to wait for the water to recede, temporary solutions have become part of daily life in the flooded area.
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