The Meyil Obruk Lake, famous for its pink color, has completely dried up! Its current state is heartbreaking.

Due to the increasing temperatures and decreasing water levels in the Meyil Obruk Lake in the Karatay district of Konya, 'dunaliella salina' microorganisms are multiplying, causing the lake to turn pink. With its karstic structure and the pink color it takes on as summer approaches, the lake also creates a visual feast. Meyil Obruk Lake, which has a diameter of 650 meters, a depth of 75 meters, and a water depth of 31 meters as of 1970, has completely dried up.

"A NATURAL WORK, A MONUMENTAL FEATURE"

Prof. Dr. Yaşar Eren, a faculty member of the Geology Department at Konya Technical University, explained that the 31-meter water depth has gradually diminished over 50 years, stating, "This is a very sad situation. At the same time, we are reflecting the situation in our region and our province. Meyil Obruk Lake was the largest lake in Turkey that held water. In previous years, it had really been a natural work, a monumental feature in terms of tourism with different shades of color. Compared to the situation in 2020, we see that Meyil Lake has completely dried up. In 1970, a water depth of 31 meters was measured. Unfortunately, after about 50 years, no water is observed at the moment. The water at a depth of 31 meters has disappeared," he said.

"IT SEEMS LIKE WE WILL ONLY LEAVE A DESERT FOR THE FUTURE"

Prof. Dr. Yaşar Eren stated, "In the basins and plains of Central and Western Anatolia, especially after the 2000s, due to excessive agricultural irrigation, global warming, and various other reasons it has caused, unfortunately, a large majority of our wetlands in Central and Western Anatolia have disappeared before our eyes. In previous years, there was Meke Lake, there was Çıralı Obruk, there was Meyil Obruk. Currently, there is only water in Kızören Obruk in the region. Due to the reasons I mentioned in the last 20-30 years, unfortunately, a large majority of our wetlands have dried up. It now seems like we will only leave a desert for the future. Now, of course, these are windows opening into the ground, indicators showing the groundwater level in different sections. As a result, only a few remain. After they dry up, it seems that there will be no wetlands left in Central and Western Anatolia," he said.