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The extraordinary microbial formations hidden beneath the waters of Lake Van in eastern Türkiye are drawing global attention as they move closer to official recognition by the Guinness World Records. Known as “underwater fairy chimneys,” these rare structures, formed over thousands of years, can reach heights of up to 40 meters, making them among the largest of their kind in the world.
The initiative was led by Emre Zeki Karagol, Türkiye’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs representative in Van. He announced that their official application has successfully passed the preliminary screening and is now under detailed scientific evaluation.
Karagol, who was appointed to Van in December 2025, said he became interested in the formations after learning that these microbialites can reach heights of up to 40 meters beneath the lake’s surface. He later consulted experts, including Mustafa Sarı, to gather scientific documentation supporting the application.
The application was submitted in late December 2025 on behalf of the Van Representation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to Karagöl, hundreds of entries from around the world are being reviewed by Guinness officials, and the evaluation process, based on strict scientific criteria, typically takes three to four months.
“These structures have been known in scientific literature since the 1990s,” Karagol said. “We included academic studies, underwater footage, and visual materials in our application file.”
If accepted, the listing is expected to significantly boost the international visibility of Van and its natural attractions. Officials believe it could also help expand diving tourism in Lake Van, where these rare geological formations have been drawing increasing interest from researchers and explorers alike.
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