Burdur Lake experienced the largest surface loss among the examined lakes

A long-term study conducted with satellite data revealed that Burdur Lake has experienced the most significant shrinkage among the closed basin lakes in the region in recent years.

The study examined the changes in Burdur, Salda, Yarışlı, Karataş, Acıgöl, and Eber lakes between 2010 and 2024. The results showed that the surface area decreased in all six lakes, with the largest loss occurring in Burdur Lake at approximately 32.4 percent.

According to the study, not only the lack of rainfall but also prolonged drought periods and increasing evaporation pressure play significant roles in the shrinkage of the lakes. It was determined that especially Burdur and Eber lakes are more sensitive to these changes, while Salda Lake appears to be more resilient compared to the other lakes.

The study compared the changes in the lakes over the years by evaluating satellite images and climate data together. The continuous trend of shrinkage in Burdur Lake indicates a long-term deterioration in the lake's water balance. The study also reveals that this process cannot be explained solely by short-term droughts, and long-term climate pressures must also be taken into account.

The findings suggest that instead of uniform protection policies for sensitive lakes, each basin should be managed according to its own conditions. The study emphasizes that water usage and groundwater management should be handled more carefully in more fragile systems like Burdur and Eber.

The study was conducted by Orhun Soydan from the Department of Landscape Architecture at Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University and was published in the Rocznik Ochrona Środowiska journal.

Article access link:
https://doi.org/10.54740/ros.2026.011