# The 20 largest natural lakes in Turkey

Lake Van, at 3,713 km², is by far Turkey's largest lake, followed by Lake Tuz and Lake Beyşehir, the country's largest freshwater lake. Reservoirs are not included, only natural lakes: the 20 largest by surface area, with their provinces, type of lake and altitude. The area of some lakes in closed basins, especially Tuz and Akşehir, varies greatly with the season and with drought.

- 6 votes · 20 items
- Feb 7, 2025 · Damla
- https://even.best/en/l/5564/the-20-largest-natural-lakes-in-turkey

## Top 20

1. **Lake Van** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — 3,713 km². Van, Bitlis. Volcanic dam lake, 1646 m above sea level. Turkey's largest lake and one of the largest soda lakes in the world.
2. **Lake Tuz (Salt Lake)** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — 1,500 km². Ankara, Konya, Aksaray. Salt lake, 905 m above sea level. Supplies most of Turkey's salt; it largely dries out in summer.
3. **Lake Beyşehir** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — 663 km². Konya, Isparta. Tectonic lake, 1123 m above sea level. Turkey's largest freshwater lake.
4. **Lake Eğirdir** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — 468 km². Isparta. Freshwater lake, 917 m above sea level.
5. **Lake Manyas (Kuş Gölü)** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — 166 km². Balıkesir. Freshwater lake. Home to Kuşcenneti (Bird Paradise) National Park.
6. **Lake Uluabat** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — 136 km². Bursa. Freshwater lake. A Ramsar site.
7. **Lake Akşehir** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 353 km². Konya, Afyonkarahisar. Tectonic lake, 954 m above sea level.
8. **Lake İznik** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 310 km². Bursa. Freshwater lake, 85 m above sea level. The largest lake in the Marmara Region.
9. **Lake Burdur** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 153 km². Burdur, Isparta. Tectonic lake, 842 m above sea level. A Ramsar site.
10. **Akyatan Lagoon** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 147 km². Adana. Lagoon. A Ramsar site.
11. **Lake Eber** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 125 km². Afyonkarahisar. Freshwater marsh, 967 m above sea level.
12. **Lake Çıldır** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 123 km². Ardahan, Kars. Freshwater lake, 1959 m above sea level.
13. **Lake Erçek** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 114 km². Van. Volcanic dam lake, 1808 m above sea level.
14. **Lake Hazar** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 81 km². Elazığ. Tectonic lake, 1248 m above sea level.
15. **Lake Işıklı** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 64 km². Denizli. Freshwater lake, 816 m above sea level.
16. **Lake Tersakan** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 64 km². Konya. Tectonic lake, 910 m above sea level.
17. **Lake Mogan** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 63 km². Ankara. Barrier lake.
18. **Lake Bafa** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 60 km². Aydın, Muğla. Freshwater lake, 2 m above sea level.
19. **Lake Köyceğiz** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 52 km². Muğla. Alluvial barrier lake, 8 m above sea level.
20. **Lake Sapanca** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 46.9 km². Sakarya. Freshwater lake, 33 m above sea level.

How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.