Tortum Selalesi

Beyond Tortum, the Tortum Çayi valley extends northwards for about 60km/37mi to the southern extremity of Tortum Gölü. This 8km/5mi long lake, a kilometer wide, flanked by steep mountains on either hand, was formed naturally by a gigantic landslip blocking the valley. Probably this happened towards the end of the last Ice Age about 10,000-15,000 years ago; but because there are local villagers who claim to remember their great-grandparents talking about the cataclysmic event, some people believe the lake to be no more then 250 years old.

At the north end of the lake, just before reaching the hydro-electric station, a little road on the right crosses the lake outflow and bends left to where there is a splendid view of the Tortum Çayi waterfalls, cascading down a 50m/164ft high escarpment to more rapids below. The landslip which created Tortum Gölü was also responsible for four smaller lakelets trapped by the debris. They are full of trout.