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Thousands of people gathered for a festival at Balik Lake, a scenic freshwater lake situated at an altitude of 2,241 meters in the Taslicay district of Agri province in eastern Türkiye.
The event, coordinated by the provincial governor's office and the Taslicay district governorate, attracted participants from Agri's city center as well as from the districts of Taslicay and Dogubayazit and the neighboring province of Igdir.
Local farmers organized a lamb beauty contest that added a colorful element to the festivities, with cash prizes awarded to the owners of the top-placed animals.
An off-road driving show was also held on a track along the lakeshore, while residents danced the halay, a traditional line dance, and children flew kites. Some visitors took boat trips out on the lake.
Speaking at the event, Agri Governor Onder Bozkurt said the festival had been held with great enthusiasm and drew thousands of people to enjoy the region's unique natural surroundings.
He said Balik Lake holds many natural wonders and reflected on the strength of the people living in the shadow of Mount Agri, saying they draw on their history to build their future.
The governor added that a nation's real strength does not come only from the resources it possesses, but from knowing its history, upholding the values of its civilization and passing those values on to future generations.
Bozkurt said every young person who understands their heritage, draws inspiration from history and embraces the values of their nation will be central to building a strong future under what officials refer to as the "Türkiye Century," a long-term development and cultural vision promoted by the government.
He said the vision, shaped under the leadership of the president, goes beyond development goals and is also about preserving Türkiye's civilizational values, describing it as a way of shaping the future using the strength drawn from the country's deep-rooted history.
Bozkurt also linked the festival to the government's "terror-free Türkiye" initiative, saying Agri has carried out a number of activities in the region in support of that goal.
He described Balik Lake, which he said is Türkiye's highest-altitude freshwater lake, as an important part of that vision, and said its natural beauty belongs not only to Agri but to the whole country.
He said it was the duty of officials and residents alike to protect, promote and pass on the lake's natural and historical value to future generations.
The festival was also attended by Taslicay District Governor Kubra Baka Kilic, along with deputy governors and local residents.
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