Lake Balık
Balık Gölü
A volcanic dammed lake at about 2,240 m above sea level, with small islands and legendary monastery ruins. Quiet highland scenery with pastures.
Lake Balık ('Fish Lake') is one of the highest lakes in Turkey. It was formed when volcanic lava dammed a river valley. Its wide water surface is surrounded by summer pastures used by Kurdish herders, and legend says that ancient monastery ruins stand on one of the islets in the lake. By the shore you can fish, have a picnic and watch the sunset. In winter the lake freezes over, and you can go ice fishing. It is about 60 km from Doğubayazıt. Some sections are rural roads, so a self-drive or hired car is recommended, and the round trip takes most of a day.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Diyadin Hot Springs
- İshak Pasha Palace
- Old Beyazıt Mosque (Selim Mosque)
- Old Beyazıt Castle
- Tomb of Ahmed-i Hani
- Mount Ararat
- Durupınar site (Noah's Ark)
- Meteor Crater (Meteor Çukuru)