Lake Hazar
Lake Hazar (Hazar Gölü in Turkish) is a lake in the Elazig province of Eastern Anatolian Region. It is home to resorts, beaches, several accomodation centers, and tourism centers. It also borders minor cities, and shows presence as an important tourism area.
Understand
Lake Hazar, also named Lake Gölcük, is one of the deepest lakes in Turkey. As a result, it contains a fair share of biodiversity. The lake borders two major settlements: Gezin and Sivrice. Gezin is a village of the nearby town called Maden. Gezin serves as a touristic center with a considerable number of resorts, and approximately 1,000 people are living in its center. Meanwhile, Sivrice is a more major settlement with 8,600 people. Gezin is directly on the road that connects Ergani with Elazig. It is growing rapidly and also is easier to access than Sivrice.
Most of the facility staff do not know or understand English.
An underwater city was discovered in Sivrice, and the local government is seeking for its recognition by the UNESCO Cultural Heritage list. The area is not open for tourism yet.
Do
The lake is swimmable. There are several beach zones that can be visited. However, the beaches are relatively rocky compared to the seaside beaches.
The lake has a lot of biodiversity, and the seagulls and several other bird species are common in the area.
- 🌍 Lake Hazar Nature Park (Hazar Gölü Tabiat Parkı). Picnicking and camping.
- 🌍 Hazarbaba Ski Center (Hazarbaba Kayak Merkezi) (south of Sivrice). Skiing and skating are pretty popular in the area. The ski center is
Eat
Fish dishes are pretty common on the lake's shores. There are several fishing restourants on the road that serve the fresh deal. Most common fishes in the lake are Karabalik and Aynalisazan types.
Go next
- Ergani: Located south of Gezin, Ergani is a major settlement in Southeastern Anatolia. It serves as the gate to Diyarbakir.
- Elazig: The province center, home to several caves and tourism centers.