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.