The drought in Turkey has revealed “fairy chimneys” underwater as the lake water recedes. These are the mysterious chimneys in Lake Van, a freshwater lake fed by streams flowing down from the surrounding mountains. It is one of the few endorheic lakes in the world.
The chimneys from above resemble vast coral reefs. (Illustrative image).
Lake Van has been particularly affected by the drought that has become common in recent years, with water levels currently at their lowest in history, marking the driest period in the past two years. The “fairy chimneys” that were once submerged are now visible on the water’s surface. They are especially easy to spot along the riverbanks in Incekaya, a nearby village in northern Turkey.
Scientists explain that some of these geological formations—resembling vertical rock columns—may have existed for about 800,000 years following ancient volcanic eruptions that led to lava flowing into the rock.
The chimneys from above resemble vast coral reefs. However, their emergence signals an increasing threat to the area. A local resident near the lake expressed, “Unfortunately, Lake Van is also suffering the consequences of drought in our country. They are exposed due to the drought, which is sad because Lake Van is a precious heritage to us.“
If more fairy chimneys emerge in the ongoing drought, they may start to disappear, as the lack of water could cause the formations to crumble. The increasingly unpredictable extreme weather has left the local population very concerned.
A researcher noted, “Less rainfall and more evaporation contribute to the decline, but our research also indicates that excessive groundwater usage, with thousands of wells drilled to extract water in the area, is a factor. Some water sources feeding the lake are nearly depleted.”
