The Meke Lake in the Karapınar district of Konya was formed when the crater, which occurred 5 million years ago with a volcanic eruption, was filled with water over time. 9 thousand years ago, it took its final shape as a result of a second eruption in the middle of the lake and filling it with water. In the middle of Meke, which is fed from underground water sources and has salty water, there is a volcano cone at a height of 50 meters.
Lake Meke, which previously had 12 meters of water, dried up due to years of drought and unconscious agricultural irrigation, as the groundwater level was constantly falling. Now there is almost a handful of water in only one part of the lake.
(PHOTO: DHA)
THE RED COLOR WAS
Karapınar Mayor Mehmet Yaka stated that the most important reason for the drying of the lake is the withdrawal of groundwater in Konya Basin. Yaka said:
* Recently, the groundwater in our country and Konya Basin has been withdrawn and the water forming the beauty of Meke Lake has been withdrawn. There is no water left from the water height of about 10-12 meters.
* In this season, painting in red color is the event caused by microorganisms. In this season, as water was withdrawn, it appeared red as a result of microorganisms. This gave our lake a distinct beauty.
The old version of the lake. (PHOTO: DHA)
“WHEN THE PROBLEM IS SOLVED …”
Summarizing the situation in Meke Lake, Kaya said:
* It brings the reconstruction of the water of Meke Lake into the agenda, a review of the groundwater level, and re-evaluation of groundwater irrigation.
* It is not only the problem of Meke, but actually the whole of Karapınar or Konya Basin. I believe that when the water problem of the entire basin is solved, Meke’s water level will rise again and regain its former beauty.
TOURISM HOPE
Stating that they want the region to be brought to tourism, Kaya ended his words as follows:
* We want to bring this region to tourism. Even now we have hundreds of citizens who come to visit this lake. But I believe that this lake, which is a protected area that has recently been included in the Ramsar contract, will contribute to tourism and the economy by reintroducing it with the geopark work to be created by our Ministry of Environment and Urbanization. (DHA)
