Alarming sight at Lake Van
The drought experienced in recent years at Lake Van, Turkey's largest lake, has begun to threaten the region's ecosystem, while deep cracks and microbialites in areas where the water has receded are causing concern.
İHA
Citizens living around Lake Van are concerned about the water level, which has visibly decreased in recent years.
With the drop in the lake's water level, areas that were previously underwater have emerged, and in some regions, the coastline has receded by kilometers.
In particular, the drying up of agricultural lands and wetlands around the lake is leaving the local population, who rely on these areas for their livelihood, in a difficult situation.
A citizen named Orhan Emen said, "The water level of Lake Van has dropped by nearly 2 meters in the last 5 years. This cannot be explained solely by a decrease in precipitation. At the same time, rising temperatures, increased evaporation, and human-induced water usage are also effective in this process."