Background Lake Sapanca
Sapanca Lake is located on a tectonic hole, which is situated between Izmit Bay and Adapazari Meadow and runs parallel to Iznik Lake. The forest area near to the coast of Lake Sapanca‘s south slopes has been heavily damaged and has left space for new kinds of small trees like maquis. Nowadays there are no more significant forest areas surrounding Lake Sapanca. Flow volumes of the streams, which feed the Lake are very low and many of them have dried up.
The catchment area is 251 sq. km [km²]. The length is 16 km from east-west, and 5 km from north-south. The water surface area is 45 sq. km [km²], the maximum depth is 52 m. The catchment area of Lake Sapanca is surrounded by mountains in the south and small hills in the north. Water is taken from the Lake for domestic and industrial needs.
Lake Sapanca is one of the few lakes in Turkey, which provides drinking water, but it is exposed to heavy urbanization because of its natural beauty and its proximity to the metropolitan Istanbul. Natural forest lands in catchment areas have been vanishing quickly. There is pollution from highways near the coast and also from waste water from settlement areas around the lake. A negative effect on the trophic level of the lake has been observed.
Until now heavy pollution has not been observed in the lake, but nevertheless dumping of waste water from domestic areas should be prevented and no licenses should be given to factories.
The region around Sapanca has become very important for day trips and weekend vacations with its charming natural beauty.