In recent years, Lake Tuz has become a hotspot for tourists. In October 2021, Lake Tuz dried up completely.
■ Geography
The lake, occupying a tectonic depression in the central plateau of Turkey, is fed by two major streams, groundwater, and surface water, but has no outlet. Brackish marshes have formed where channels and streams enter the lake. Arable fields surround the lake, except in the south and southwest where extensive seasonally flooded salt-steppe occurs. For most of the year, it is very shallow (approx.0.4 m (1 ft)). During winter part of the salt is dissolved in the fresh water that is introduced to the lake by precipitation and surface runoff (to 324‰ salinity). During the summer the lake dries up exposing an average of 30 cm thick salt layer in August. This mechanism is used as a basis for the process of the salt mines in the lake. The three mines operating in the lake produce 63％ of the salt consumed in Turkey. The salt mining generates industrial activity in the region, mainly related to salt processing and refining.
■ History
Anciently, the lake was called Tatta, and was located on the frontiers between ancient Lycaonia and Galatia； it had originally belonged to Phrygia, but was afterwards annexed to Lycaonia. The ancients reported that its waters were so impregnated with brine, that any substance dipped into it, was immediately encrusted with a thick coat of salt； even birds flying near the surface had their wings moistened with the saline particles, so as to become incapable of rising into the air, and to be easily caught. Stephanus of Byzantium speaks of a salt lake in Phrygia, which he calls Attaea (Ἄτταια), near which there was a town called Botieum, and which is probably the same as Lake Tatta.
□■ Pre-history
Pre-historical Lake Tatta was originally a much larger freshwater lake with numerous rivers flowing in and out of it, that dominated the Central Anatolian interior. Lush with vegetation, the region sprung up some of the earliest known civilizations including the Hittites and Anatolian people. After the last Ice age between 11,000 and 5,000 years ago, the Central Anatolian steppe began to gradually transform into its current form.
■ Flora and fauna
In 2001, Lake Tuz was declared a specially protected area, including all of the lake surface and surrounding waterbeds and some of the important neighboring steppe areas. The main Turkish breeding colony of greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) is present on a group of islands in the southern part of the lake. Greater white-fronted goose (Anser albifrons) is the second largest breeder here. Lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni) is a common breeder in surrounding villages.

SW 99.7Km	Sarayönü
SE 116.3Km	Nevşehir
SE 122.7Km	Kaymakli Underground City
SW 122.7Km	Mevlana Museum
SW 123.2Km	Alâeddin Mosque
SE 124.1Km	Uçhisar
SW 124.3Km	Konya
SE 124.3Km	Derinkuyu
SE 124.4Km	Derinkuyu underground city
SE 126.1Km	Göreme

vTourMap トゥズ湖 Lake Tuz 圖茲湖 Tuz Gölü

vTourMap トゥズ湖　 Lake Tuz　圖茲湖　 Tuz Gölü