Lake Eğirdir

Eğirdir is the fourth-largest lake in Turkey, sitting at around nine hundred metres with the Taurus rising steeply on its eastern side, and the town at its southern end has an unusual shape: a causeway runs out into the water to Yeşilada, a small island that was a Greek fishing village until 1923 and is now a cluster of pensions and fish restaurants, so guests sleep surrounded by lake. The old town on the shore has a Seljuk fortress, a medrese and a covered bazaar. Around the lake are apple and cherry orchards - Isparta apples are a national brand - and the water supplies irrigation across the region, which has drawn down levels significantly in recent decades and is a serious local concern. Fishing continues, largely for introduced species. The Kovada national park lies south, the St Paul Trail passes through, and the mountains above offer walking with views the length of the lake.

The landscape

• The causeway and island - Yeşilada out in the water.
• The mountain wall - the Taurus along the eastern shore.
• The fortress and bazaar - the Seljuk fabric in the old town.
• The orchards - apple and cherry country around the lake.

When to go

April to June and September to October; the altitude keeps it cooler than the coast. Winter is cold and much of the island accommodation closes.

Things to know

Water levels have dropped markedly and the shoreline recedes in places. Island pensions are simple and can be noisy in season. The lake is cold for swimming outside high summer.

Nearby

Kovada national park and Yazılı Canyon are south; Sagalassos and Antiocheia are within reach by car.

Key facts