On the way to Cappadocia : Tuz Golu (Salt Lake)

Info : Tuz Golu (120 km   to the south of Ankara, on the way to Cappadocia) also called Tatta in ancient times, is a closed lake with no way out, surrounded by plateaus on 4 sides. The sources feeding the lake are insufficient; Melendiz River (Aksaray) and Pecenekozu River (Sereflikochisar).    Although it is the second largest lake, there is not much water because of its shallowness.   It is among the lakes of the world with its very high salinity of 33%. Due to this high rate of salt it is impossible to grow crops around the lake.   Tuz Golu is one of the richest salt beds in the world. The amount of salt which is obtained here is 300 thousand tons per year. This is 60% of the total salt production in Turkey.  Salt can only be taken from the lake from July through August.