Lake Eber Explained

Lake Eber
Location:Afyon Province, Turkey
Coordinates:38.6333°N 40°W
Type:lake
Pushpin Map:Turkey
Pushpin Map Alt:Location of the lake in Turkey.

Lake Eber (Turkish: Eber Gölü) is a freshwater lake in Afyon Province, Turkey. The lake used to be connected with nearby Lake Akşehir and was named Tessarakonta Martyron, the Forty Martyr's lake, in premodern times.[1] [2]

Geography

The lake is between the district centers of Çay, Bolvadin and Sultandağı of Afyon Province. The midpoint is at about 38.6333°N 40°W. The altitude of the water surface with respect to sea level is . The surface area fluctuates and at times it may be exceed . In past the maximum recorded depth was .

Geology

Lake Eber is a part of Akarçay closed basin, a tectonic basin about . At the conclusion of the last glacier age (Pleistocene) a vast lake was formed in the basin. But after the water level dropped, the lake was fragmentized into two lakes. Lake Eber is at the north west and Lake Akşehir which shares the same history lies at the south east. Presently the distance between the two lakes (nearest points) is about .[3]

Tributaries

The tributaries are rivulets from the Sultan Mountains at the south. When the level increases beyond a certain level the water is fed to the nearby lower level Akşehir lake by a channel (Eber channel).

Ecology

The main plants of the lake are Typha latifolia, Phragmites australis, Lycopus europaeus and Mentha aquatica. The lake is known for the reed beds. Sometimes the remains of reed beds which detach from the land, constitute floating islands on the lake and may be used by the fishermen. The fish species are Cyprinus carpio, Esox lucius and Gobio gobio. The lake is also known for various waterfowls.[4]

Important Bird Area status

The lake was declared by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area in 1989 for its waterfowl species of international character and species, which are threatened by hunting, pollution and reed cutting.[5]

Environmental issues

Due to climate change in Turkey and misuse of water sources, the surface area of the lake is shrinking. The neighbouring Lake Akşehir has been mostly dried up. Up to 1992, the most important problem was water pollution. Although, the lake was declared as Natural Protected Area in 1992, (Turkish: SİT)[6] it was reported that the lake had dried out completely in 2018.[7] As of 2020, the water has been reported to be back in the lake. [8]

References

  1. Daniel Beihammer . Nilsson . Ingela . Veikou . Myrto . Spatial Concept and Administrative Structures in the Byzantine-Turkish Frontier of the Twelfth-Century Asia Minor . Spatialities of Byzantine Culture from the Human Body to the Universe . 14 November 2022 . 413 . 25 September 2023 . Brill.
  2. Barjamovic . Gojko . Singer . I. . Sites, Routes and Historical Geography in Central Anatolia . Ipamati Kistamati Pari Tumatimis. Luwian and Hittite Studies Presented to J. David Hawkins on the Occasion of His 70th Birthday . 14 . 25 September 2023 . Emery and Claire Yass Publications in Archaeology . Tel Aviv.
  3. http://www.kultur.gov.tr/TR/belge/2-17426/plan---aksehir.html Sketch of the Ministry of Tourism
  4. http://www.kultur.gov.tr/TR/belge/2-17423/eski2yeni.html Ministry of Tourism page
  5. Web site: Important Bird Areas In Turkey: Unprotected And Under Threat æauthors=Grimmett, R. F. A. & M. Kasparek, A. Kılıç, A. Ertan I. 2014-07-13 .
  6. http://arsiv.ntvmsnbc.com/news/455650.asp NTV news
  7. Web site: One of Turkey's largest freshwater lakes dries up completely.
  8. Web site: 'Eber Gölü'nde su yok değil, su var' - AFYONKARAHİSAR | Karahisar, Allah, Küresel Isınma, Kar Yağışı, Balık Tutma.

External links