Salt Lake, Turkey, or Tüz Gölü is another world experience. We went there with low expectations and now find ourselves going back there time and again to bring friends. After going there a few times, I want to share with you what we have learned and some tips to make your trip special.
Like many tourist destinations in Turkey, this one is almost completely unexploited. No motels, developed beaches, or even road signs to give tourists the indication that this place is a must see. There aren’t even any proper roads! Hence, I would say this is an undiscovered treasure of Turkey. It doesn’t rate as high as say Pamukkale, but it’s not far behind. And if you know the right places to go, it’s unforgettable.
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| Crystal formations on the shore. |
When you first drive by it, you are like “What!”. It should really be called The Red Sea. I didn’t use Photoshop or any special filter in my pictures. They are exactly what you see in August. But I will add that late summer is probably the best time to see the colors.
The best way to see Salt Lake
We started off by driving our rental car through the lake here. This is the only road accessible to tourists. Starting from this side is better as there is a security gate on the other side for the salt factories that you must pass. If you want to avoid an encounter and explain your intentions in Turkish, I recommend starting at this spot.
Some of the road was gravel, but well maintained and not hard on our rental car. Like I said, this isn’t a place to visit on the well beaten path. And don’t expect any road signs. Google maps navigation really helped us.
Yes, there are flamingos
This is a migratory lake for flamingos. Though they are rarely seen, there is a pool at this spot when you first enter the lake where they like to gather. I have seen them relaxing here, though in this picture they are not there. Here is the exact google pin of the spot. You can easily get our of your vehicle and walk to it.
How to prepare for it
Here is where your preparation will start coming in handy. On either side you will see dried out salt planes (depending on the time of year). We walked out onto these salt planes which were a little muddy and the surface was quite peculiar. It had a layer of salt (sometimes pink), a layer of a thick black greasy substance, and earth underneath. Thankfully we were prepared with proper footwear and a few containers.
The mud is special
Of course we had to try smearing some on our face. There are companies around Salt Lake that specialize in masks and lotions from the mud obtained here. Here are some of the elements* found in this mud:
- Magnesium
- Iron
- Sodium Chloride
- Potassium
- Calcium
- Bromine
- Hydrogen
In fact, there are a total of 22 elements that are beneficial in the mud. However the mud has a lot of foreign matter in it. Perhaps you can tell by the picture that there are little twigs and such trapped in it.
Beautiful colors
Once we got to this point in the crossing, we encountered a bridge where a few locals were swimming. The water there is eerily yellow, brown and blue. It is particularly beautiful. Here are some pictures of that spot.
A major salt industry
When reaching the other side of the lake, there is heavy industry. Big trucks will be driving past you on their way to processing plants. Almost all of this salt processed here is consumed in Turkey. You will literally see mountains of salt being loaded and unloaded.
The most beautiful part of the lake
From here we left and had to go through the security gate. There were no questions or issues. We passed through a small town and found ourselves driving beside a beautiful part of the lake. The beautiful pink radiance of the lake was stunning.
Unfortunately, as I mentioned before, this lake has never really been developed for tourists, though many have been requesting this to happen. Spas and hotels would no doubt pounce on an opportunity like this. Therefore you must find your own way to the lake. There is a highway that runs alongside the lake, but no developed access to it. Therefore you have to find it.
This is the exact spot where we found a small road leading to the lake. This road can be rough, so take a good look before driving on it. This time we decided not to drive on it. There was a small area that you can pull your car into here so we took that. It’s only a 10 minute walk from this point.
The lake itself is really only knee deep at the deepest points. It is deep pink due to the algae which gets more intense as the water level goes down in late summer. At least that has been our experience. I later learned that the lake was declared a special environmental protection area by UNESCO 2000.
Walking around the lake will reveal beautiful crystal formations.
What to bring if you go
Here are a few things which were very helpful on this trip:
- Lots of fresh water. Not simply for thirst. The salt gets caked on your hands and feet. You will want to something to rinse off with.
- Extra shoes. Preferably something that you can get black greasy mud on.
- Plastic bags. To put your shoes in, or on the floor in your car to prevent the salt and mud from spreading.
- A small digging tool.
- Bathing suit.
- Small container. To put salt or mud or whatever in.
I think it’s just a matter of time before this lake is built up for tourists. And I’m sure the health benefits will become widely known. For now it is a pretty open and undeveloped part of Turkey.
If it’s on the way, Kizoren Golu. It’s the largest sinkhole in Turkey and shows beautiful colors in the summer. Right beside it is an 800 year old inn call Obruk Han. Definitely worth the stop!
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