Scientists Discover Ancient Lake in Turkey: A Stunning Mars Analog

Editor’s Note: This CNN Travel series is, or was, sponsored by the country it highlights. CNN retains full editorial control over subject matter, reporting and frequency of the articles and videos within the sponsorship, in compliance with. Extraordinary to look at, peaceful and surrounded by an abundance of wildlife, it’s little wonder that Lake Salda has become a significant, if lesser-known attraction, located deep in the country’s southwest. But there’s so much more to this gorgeous body of water and its white-sand beaches than just beauty to get tourists excited.

Lake Salda: A Unique Geological Treasure

According to scientists, Lake Salda is the only place on Earth that’s analogous to the Jezero Crater on Mars. This fact has piqued the interest of space scientists at a time when humankind is increasingly turning its attention to the Red Planet as a possible destination for a crewed mission. It’s also helped increase environmental awareness around this fragile treasure, which is facing existential threats from pollution and decreasing water levels.

Research and Discoveries

Briony Horgan, a professor at Purdue University’s Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences Department, traveled to Turkey in 2019 with NASA’s Perseverance rover team to study the mysterious lake. She was struck by its resemblance to a distant planet. In space exploration, a Mars analog is a place on Earth that’s considered similar or comparable to the conditions found on another planet or moon. Horgan notes that finding a Mars analog here is particularly challenging due to the high levels of iron and magnesium that make up the composition of the Red Planet, which are “very primitive.”

However, she explains that Lake Salda’s basin is “of that composition that was created at the bottom of an ocean when the oceanic crust ripped apart and made new crust straight out of the interior of the Earth.” This unique geological formation provides critical insights into both Martian geology and our own planet’s history.

Microbial Structures and Environmental Concerns

Nurgül Balcı, a professor in Istanbul Technical University’s Geological Engineering Department, also took part in NASA’s Lake Salda studies. In addition to helping scientists better understand Martian geology, she says the lake also offers insights into our own planet’s history. For instance, the microorganisms in the water have built microbial structures that are at least 2 million years old, some of which have been exposed due to decreasing water levels on the lake.

Last year, the International Commission on Geoheritage (IUGS) announced the inclusion of Lake Salda on its list of the world’s Top 100 geological sites. “We prepared a file (showing) that Salda contains important information about Mars and the early Earth and that if they are lost, we will have difficulty finding and understanding such information,” Balcı explains.

Advocacy for Protection

In recent years, environmentalists and lawyers have been vocal about the need to increase protections and awareness about the value of the lake beyond its physical beauty. While some experts are optimistic that being on the IUGS list will have a positive effect on these efforts, others remain skeptical. Retired lecturer Erol Kesici of Süleyman Demirel University’s Eğirdir Water Resources Faculty, who is also the founder of the Turkish Water Institute, emphasizes the importance of scientific advisement in environmental protection.

As Lake Salda continues to attract attention for its unique geological features and its connection to Mars, the ongoing efforts to protect this natural wonder are crucial. The lake not only serves as a window into our planet’s past but also as a key to understanding the potential for life on other planets.