Lake Salda
Salda Gölü
A brilliant blue crater-like lake known as the "Maldives of Turkey," with white carbonate shores that NASA has used in Mars research.
Lake Salda is one of Turkey's deepest and clearest lakes. The white hydromagnesite deposits on its shores have been used by NASA as an analog for studying the Jezero impact crater on Mars. The White Islands (Beyaz Adalar) area is a protected zone, and visitors must enter through designated paths. Stepping on the white deposits is forbidden, and food is not allowed in the core area. It lies about 90 kilometers from Pamukkale, roughly 1.5 hours by car, and is well suited to a summer day trip by car.
Opening hours
Open all day (daytime access only)
Nearby sights
- Kaklık Cave
- Laodicea on the Lycus
- Theatre of Hierapolis
- Martyrium of St. Philip
- Ploutonion at Hierapolis
- Antique Pool (Cleopatra's Pool)
- Pamukkale & Hierapolis
- Hierapolis Archaeology Museum