The story of Lake Çıldır

In winter, when Çıldır Lake freezes over, fishermen break through the thick ice to catch fish; here fishing goes on in all four seasons. Once called Palakatsio Lake, it lies within the borders of Ardahan and Kars provinces. With an area of 123 km², it is the largest freshwater lake of the Eastern Anatolia Region and the region's second largest lake.

It sits 1959 metres above sea level, its deepest point is 42 metres and its shoreline runs roughly 60 kilometres. The lake is a natural dam lake, formed jointly by a lava flow and a debris cone. Many streams and springs feed it, and its only outlet is the Telek stream on the Armenian border.

Look for its largest island beside the ruins of Akçakale. Little vegetation grows around the shore, yet the surrounding pastures support intensive livestock farming. The most important catch is the mirror carp, whose breeding reed beds shrink when dry seasons pull the water back.