Lake Gölcük

Gölcük Lake is an alluvial dam lake located in the province of İzmir, Turkey. It is within the boundaries of Gölcük Neighborhood belonging to the district of Ödemiş. The lake area is 0.941 km², its deepest point is 7 m, and the lake volume is 1,814 m³. Located 5 kilometres from the town of Bozdağ and covering an area of 1,521 hectares, Gölcük Lake was placed under protection on 30.12.2022. This lake hosts various trees, plants and forests. It is also situated in an area surrounded by pine trees.

Many people come to visit this lake for vacation and stay in various hotels around it.

The lake’s length is 1,950 m, its widest point is 1,100 m. Its elevation above sea level is 1,049 metres. Reed‑marsh areas have formed on the southwest shores. The lake basin, which is 9.2 km² in size, lies at an altitude of 1,049–1,350 m. The lake basin receives 12,467,054 m³ of precipitation annually.

The lake’s excess waters reach the Tabak River and the Gediz River, and from there the Aegean Sea. Different views have been put forward regarding its formation. Alluvial material carried by Mad Stream and Geyik Stream north of the lake has created a natural dam in the valley. In the lake basin there are gneisses, quartz and schists, which form the basis of the Bozdağ Mountains and are the oldest rock groups.

The lake is located on the plain that locals call Gölcük Plain or Gölcük Plateau, a flat area 3 km wide and 12 km long. The lake shores, reaching up to 5,800 m, have a low‑shore character. In the 1960s, a 400 m long, 2 m high embankment built on the north shores of the lake caused the lake water level to rise by 1 m. At the same time, this lake was formed as a result of tectonic movements.

Agricultural irrigation is used from the lake, which has no inflowing streams. In summer, the lake experiences a water loss resulting in a level drop of 2.5–3 m.

Fish such as carp, pikeperch and freshwater lobster (crayfish) are fished in the lake.