Acıgöl (Konya)

Acıgöl is a volcanic maar lake located within the boundaries of Karapınar district, Konya province. It lies in the Karapınar Plain, northeast of Meke Crater Lake. It is at the 8th km on the Karapınar-Ereğli road. Its elevation above sea level is 988 m, its width is between 1750 m and 1250 m, the elliptical lake’s area is 1.2 km², and its depth is 300 m.

General characteristics

Acıgöl was formed in a crater created by an eruption in the volcanic area on the southeast edge of Karacadağ. The lake shores are quite steep. Because of magnesium sulfate, its waters are bitter‑salty. Bacteria and Arkea species have been identified in the lake. The species Marinobacter, Idiomarina and Thalassospira were identified for the first time in Acıgöl and in Turkey.

In the Middle Miocene, the approach of the Arabian Plate and the Eurasian Plate resulted in the Upper Miocene and Quaternary Cappadocia Volcanic Complex, Central Anatolia Volcanic Province and similar named areas, where many volcanic events occurred. As a result of these activities in Central Anatolia, between Hasandağı and Karapınar andesite‑basaltic rocks, lava flows, scoria cones, and maars were formed. Acıgöl, Meke Lake, Yılan maar and Meke maar in the region are grouped under the Karapınar group.

The basaltic rocks in Acıgöl and Meke Lake, which are part of the Quaternary Volcanism of Central Anatolia, are deep mantle‑derived and are the products of their emplacement in the area by continental crustal influence.