Snow-covered lake attracts photographers in NE Turkey

KARS, Turkey

Lake Aygir, a natural protected area in northeastern Turkey attracts visitors, especially photographers, as the surrounding mountains turn white offering scenic beauties.

The lake in Kars province’s Susuz district is located on volcanic rocks at an altitude of 2,300 meters (7,546 feet) and its surface is partially covered with ice through winter.

Hakan Atalay, a photographer coming from the northwestern Edirne province, told Anadolu Agency that he was amazed by the scene there where he visited for the first time.

“I had visited many parts of Kars, but I’m coming here for the first time. I regret not coming here before,” Atalay said.

“It's a really beautiful place, especially the scenes in sunset make perfect shots,” he said.

Spanning some 2,941 square meters (31,656 square feet) area, the lake offers scenic beauty for photographers, as boats that are not used in winter add to the scene.

It becomes a natural studio during sunset with the reflection of the clouds in the water.

Visitors also do angling in parts of the lake not covered with ice.

Another visitor, Zulfikar Sonmez, invited both local and foreign tourists to visit the area.

“I’m here for the first time, I didn’t know that there is such a beautiful place near Kars,” Sonmez said, adding that it has a relaxing atmosphere and scene.

Sonmez said it makes the scene even more beautiful that one part is water and the other part is covered with ice.

* Writing by Sena Guler in Ankara