BÜYÜKÇEKMECE LAKE

Küçükçekmece - Istanbul - Turkey

GPS : 41°05'20.0"N 28°31'10.4"E / 41.088898, 28.519551



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Lake Büyükçekmece (Turkish: Büyükçekmece Gölü) is a liman formed at the point where the river Karasudere flows into the Marmara Sea. The lake is located south of the Çatalca district, west of Istanbul, Turkey. It is used as a freshwater reservoir.

The lake's bar was reinforced in 1988 by a dam. The area of the lake is 28.47 km2 (10.99 sq mi), and is 7 km (4.3 mi) long and 2 km (1.2 mi) wide. The maximum depth is 8.6 m (28 ft), following deepening carried out by the State Hydraulic Works.

The fluvial lake developed as the flow of Karasudere, and as it came downwards from Çatalca it was blocked off and formed by the resulting sandbank it created. A reedy, brackish salt-water lake exists between the Büyükçekmece Dam and the Marmara Sea. Another lagoon, Lake Küçükçekmece, is located around 12 km (7.5 mi) east of Lake Büyükçekmece.

The number of fish species observed in the lake has decreased from 30 in the past to 15 currently.

A historic 635 m (2,083 ft) long and 7.17 m (23.5 ft) wide multiple arch bridge, named after the Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan (1489-1588), spans the narrow opening at the bar connecting the lake to the sea.

At the northern shore of the lake, Istanbul Hezarfen Airfield is situated on a peninsula.

Primary inflows : Karasudere
Catchment area : 622 km2 (240 sq mi)
Max. length : 7 km (4.3 mi)
Max. width : 2 km (1.2 mi)
Surface area : 28.47 km2 (10.99 sq mi)
Max. depth : 8.6 m (28 ft)
Water volume : 16,161 hm3 (3.877 cu mi)

The lake, which is not protected, was declared by Bird Life International as an Important Bird Area in 1989 for its numerous distinct and threatened waterfowl species.

Among the breeding birds are Small Honeysuckle, Spinach, Elm, Oak, Hare, Long lLg, Marsh Falcon, Mallard, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Greater Flamingo, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Pygmy Cormorant, Great Cormorant, Eurasian Coot, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Sandwich Tern, Common Tern, Rock Dove, Eurasian Collared Dove, Alpine Swift, Common Swift, Common Kingfisher, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, Great Tit, Barn Swallow, Common Starling, House Sparrow, Western Yellow Wagtail, White Wagtail, Common Chaffinch.

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TERKOS LAKE

Sarıyer - İstanbul - Turkey

GPS : 41°20'50.0"N 28°34'04.0"E / 41.347222, 28.567778



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It's 50 kilometers to the north of Istanbul on the Black Sea coast, having an area of 25 square kilometers and surrounded by small forests. The lake is fed by Istiranca river so its waters are fresh. It's one of the main fresh water sources of Istanbul using huge pipes connecting to the main water distribution center of the city.

The excessive water from the lake is discharged to the sea, if needed. Nearby the lake, there is a small village bearing the same name of the lake. Fresh water fishing and goose hunting is also possible with special regulations at and around Terkos Lake. There are a couple of country style small hotels around it, and attracts many local people especially during summer weekends.

It is situated in 50 km north -west of Istanbul in the Thrace region, behind the Karaburun. Terkos Lake which is also called Durusu Lake has 25 km square surface area. The deepest place of the lake is eleven meters. Catchment area of the lake is 619 km2. Although it is 2.75 meter higher than the sea level, it does not flow to Black Sea.

Reception Basin of Terkos Lake is small, but there are many runnels carrying water to the lake. Among these runnels, Istrance Runnel carries the most water. After the lake was separated from the sea, its water has become sweet. Approximately 196 million meter cube water enters into Terkos Lake annually. In high rainfall periods this water quantity rises to 237 million meter cube.

Terkos Village is situated near the lake. The lake is named after this village. The village dates back to the year 1000. It was built on the lakeside in the northwest direction of today’s village as a pirate’s bay by the Genoese, on the peninsula known as the inner fortress. It is seen that then the sea and the lake was in contact, but then they were separated by the natural factors. We understand from the remains of the fortress on the peninsula that there was a monastery called Trikos in the inner part of the fortress and that the village and the lake are named after this monastery.

A French ambassador who came to Istanbul in the 19th century sees the drought in the city and invites a delegation from the Ottoman Court to France. The French claim that the water-related problems in the city can be solved indeed. They show the Terkos Lake as a water resource in the sketches they have drawn. The foundations of the today’s factory building is laid in the year 1855 and following the completion of the factory’s construction in 2 years, water is supplied to Istanbul.

These facilities which have been supplying water to Istanbul for a hundred years still exist. The water is taken from the lake and after being purified in the facilities in Kagıthane, is distributed in Istanbul. Since the drought and the population in Istanbul have been increasing in recent years, the water obtained from the probes on the seaside is discharged to the Terkos Lake through pumps in order to meet the water need of the city.

In addition, The Terkos Lake is fishing and hunting place where various wild birds live. Durusu is among the favorite places of hunters. Fishing and bird hunting is available during the hunting season. However only wild duck and goose hunting is allowed. It is forbidden to shoot bird species such as black morass, coot, heron, pelican, and pheasant. The fish variety of the lake is: freshwater perch, salmon, pike, trout, roach, and carp. The lake is shallow and surrounded by rushes and touring by motorboat is not allowed. However there are boats for rent for you to row on the lake.

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These scripts and photographs are registered under © Copyright 2017, respected writers and photographers from the internet. All Rights Reserved.