Turkey Removes Over 2 Million m³ of Sediment from Van Lake

Since 2021 the Van Metropolitan Municipality has been clearing bottom sediment and sludge from Van Lake. The operation covers a 14‑kilometre shoreline stretch, extracting an average of 1,700 m³ of material each day. To date, 2.165 million m³ of sediment have been removed, with a target of 2.8 million m³.

The work uses 45 staff, 12 excavators and 22 trucks, hauling the material to a designated disposal site. Officials say the cleanup is reducing odor and pollution, allowing previously closed lake‑front areas to be reopened for public use. Bayram Ortasaç, head of the lake‑protection unit, said, "We are providing breathing space for Van Lake." Field worker Ruşen Yorgun noted the intensive overtime effort to protect the lake for future generations.