Reflections
Forests and mountains.
Nurseva — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Valen1988 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Aykun Oymakas — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Valen1988 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Valen1988 — CC BY-SA 4.0
Karagöl, the «black lake», is a mountain lake formed by a landslide dam, about 25 km from the town of Borçka in Artvin Province, northeast Turkey, and about 24 km north of Artvin in a straight line. It lies inside the Borçka Nature Park, created in 2002, and draws about 10,000 visitors a year. The lake formed when material slid from the mountainside and blocked the Savgule valley, gathering water in two connected lakes: a small round one and a larger triangular one whose level is a metre or more higher. Two peaks over 2,300 metres rise around it. Silt has reduced its depth over time from 30 metres to 8. The still, dark green lake lies between dense fir and beech forest, with drowned tree trunks standing in the water and mountains and woods mirrored on its surface. In autumn the forests turn red and gold, and in winter snow covers them. Visitors follow the path around the lake, stop at the wooden platforms for photos and stroll in the forest. The road is mountainous and mist is common; autumn is one of the best times for colour.
Forests and mountains.
In the water.
Bright colours.
Borçka Karagöl Nature Park, Artvin, Turkey
Autumn.
By car from Borçka or Artvin.