03.11.2026 10:52
The decline in the water level continues in Lake Van, the world's largest soda lake and Turkey's largest lake. The photos taken by nature photographer Ferzende Coşar from the same framing at the boat shelter in the Erciş district, 15 years apart, clearly revealed the drop in the lake. Despite abundant rainfall in the basin, it was determined that the decline continued this year as well.
The withdrawal in the water level of Lake Van was documented with photographs taken from the same point 15 years ago and today. The comparison showed that the water level has dropped significantly.
ABUNDANT RAINFALL COULD NOT STOP THE RECESSION
The abundant rainfall seen in the Lake Van Basin last year was not enough to stop the recession in the lake. The frames captured by nature observer Ferzende Coşar, who has been photographing in the region for many years, revealed the extent of the recession.
SAME FRAME, 15 YEARS APART
In the photograph Coşar took 15 years ago at the boat shelter in the Erciş district, the water level was seen to be quite high. In the photograph taken from the same frame this year, it was determined that the level had dropped significantly and the lake had receded.
“THE BOATS WERE VISIBLE ON THE WATER’S SURFACE”
Coşar, who stated that he has been taking photographs in the Lake Van Basin for about 30 years, explained that the water level was quite high in the photograph from 15 years ago. Coşar said, “I took a photograph here 15 years ago; the water level was quite high. The visible boats appeared on the surface of the water.”
“WE ARE VERY SAD ABOUT THIS”
Evaluating the cause of the recession as global warming, Coşar said the following:
“Due to global warming, there is a serious water withdrawal and drop in the water level in the Lake Van Basin. This is a very sad situation. We are very sad about this, but there is nothing we can do. It received a certain amount of rainfall this year, but unfortunately the recession is still continuing. The photograph I took 15 years ago and the photograph we have taken now reveal the difference in the water’s recession.”