Lake Van is receding a little more each year.

Lake Van, the only soda lake in Turkey, has turned its shores into a microbialite field due to the recent retreat of its waters.
Despite more rainfall this year compared to previous years, the water level in Lake Van did not rise to the desired level. The retreat of water, especially on the shores of Lake Van in the districts of Adilcevaz and Tatvan, has surprised the citizens with the appearance of microbialites.
The microbialites that have emerged due to the withdrawal of water caused by climate change and drought linked to agricultural irrigation in the world’s largest soda lake, Lake Van, have drawn attention. The decline in the water level of Lake Van has become a concerning situation due to climate change, agricultural irrigation, and other human impacts. This situation has not only negative effects on the ecosystem of the lake but also affects local life and agricultural activities in the region.
Microbialites, which have started to be seen in different areas every day, particularly resemble microbialite fields in the village of İncekaya located on the shores of Lake Van in Tatvan. Thousands of microbialites of different sizes that have emerged on the shores of Lake Van have also been captured from the air. While the resulting images offer a visual beauty, they also reveal the extent of the water withdrawal.
Experts stated that the retreat of water in the lake is caused by agricultural irrigation in addition to rainfall, particularly from Tatvan, Ahlat, and Adilcevaz. Prof. Dr. Necmettin Elmastaş, the Rector of Bitlis Eren University (BEÜ), noted that drilling has negatively affected the sources that feed Lake Van, saying, “In recent years, especially with global warming, a decline in levels has occurred in some basins, particularly in lakes. A similar situation is experienced in the Lake Van Basin located in eastern Turkey. There has been a decrease in rainfall over the past four years. Although the amount of rainfall has increased somewhat this year, there is generally a decline in the level. Of course, there are some fundamental factors that cause this level decline. The primary factor among these is rainfall. When we look at the data from the rainfall station in the Lake Van Basin, we can see that it has recorded below-average rainfall in recent years. Another reason can be expressed as the water used, especially in agricultural irrigation. Especially there is an agricultural basin leading from Tatvan, Ahlat, and Adilcevaz towards Erciş. There is significant water consumption in these areas through drilling. This water consumption negatively reflects on the sources that feed the lake. Some sources are currently dried due to the decrease in the groundwater level. Therefore, a decline in the lake level occurs due to these two basic factors. This process continues. Of course, the decline in the water level of Lake Van has also revealed some interesting images along with this negativity. Especially on the shores of the lake, particularly in Adilcevaz, microbialites have started to emerge, creating a different and interesting landscape.”