ONE of Turkey’s most beautiful lakes has such clear waters, it has been compared to the Maldives.
The white sand beaches and turquoise waters of Lake Salda, or Salda Gölü, resemble the islands found in the .
The crater lake is in southwestern , and while it’s not the largest lake, it is one of the deepest with a maximum depth of 196 metres.
Lake Salda is also considered one of the cleanest and healthiest lakes in the world.
This is because of its high alkaline pH, which makes the water high quality and a popular spot for .
You can go for a dip during the months, but there are some shores along the lakeside that have been described as “swamplike”;, so swimming is not permitted there.
Other areas are not open to tourists because they are part of a protected nature reserve.
The shorelines, surrounded byblack pineforests, are home to quails,hares,foxes,boarsand wildducks.
In the water are fish as well as seven crystal-white islets within the lake.
One visitor wrote on : “A wonderful place, and in some places you can take advantage of the mud that leaves the skin smooth and renewed.”;
Another added: “Very beautiful lake, really worth going to. You can rub the clay on your skin, the water is extremely clear and soft. It also makes your skin super soft.”;
Over the years, scientists have studied Salda’s unique rock formations closely, because of their similarities to mineral deposits found on Mars.
Lake Salda is the only known lake on that contains certain minerals and features similar to those found at Jezero Crater – which is on Mars.
The lake also contains fossils that date back two million years.
But aside from the and the , Lake Salda is a great spot for sunbathing, and there are cafes and snack bars on the outskirts of the lake.
Lake Salda is fairly remote, but you can go there on a day trip from with certain tour operators.
It’s often combined with a visit to Pamukkale and the ancient city of .
The journey from the city of Anytala to Lake Salda takes around two hours via car.
There’s a .
And another .
