Lake Meke
Lake Meke (Turkish: Meke Gölü) is a volcanic crater lake composed of two nested lakes located in Konya Province, central Turkey. It is a registered natural monument of the country and a Ramsar site. Lake Meke is located in Karapınar district of Konya Province. It is 9 km (5.6 mi) away from Karapınar, and 2 km (1.2 mi) south of the Konya-Adana highway E981.
| Lake Meke | |
|---|---|
| Meke Gölü (Turkish) | |
Lake Meke with volcanic cone inside | |
Lake Meke Location of Lake Meke in Turkey. | |
| Location | Karapınar, Konya Province |
| Coordinates | 37°41′07″N 33°38′28″E |
| Lake type | Volcanic crater lake |
| Basin countries | Turkey |
| Max. length | 800 m (2,600 ft) |
| Max. width | 500 m (1,600 ft) |
| Average depth | 12 m (39 ft) |
| Surface elevation | 981 m (3,219 ft) |
Ramsar Wetland | |
| Official name | Meke Maar |
| Designated | 21 July 2005 |
| Reference no. | 1618 |
It was formed by the flooding of the crater of an extinct volcano, which took shape about 4 million years ago when the volcano erupted. About 9,000 years ago, a second eruption formed another volcanic cone inside the lake with a maar. Lake Meke now consists of two lakes with various islets. It is 800 m (2,600 ft) long and 500 m (1,600 ft) wide with a depth of 12 m (39 ft). The inner lake inside the 50 m (160 ft)-high volcanic cone is 25 m (82 ft) deep, and contains saline water. The volcanic cone island resisted erosion by the harsh weather conditions due to its massive material, and has retained its form for thousands of years.