Van Gölü surface area decreases by 31 square kilometers over 35 years

A scientific study conducted by the Anatolian Underwater Research and Sports Association (ASAD) has revealed a significant reduction in the surface area of Lake Van, Turkey’s largest lake. Using satellite imagery from Landsat systems and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) analysis, researchers compared data from 1990, 2015, and 2025.

The findings indicate that the lake’s surface area has shrunk by a total of 31 square kilometers over the 35-year period. While the area decreased by approximately 4 square kilometers between 1990 and 2015, the rate of loss accelerated sharply in the last decade. Between 2015 and 2025, the lake lost 27 square kilometers, meaning roughly 87 percent of the total 35-year loss occurred within the last 10 years.

The project, titled “My Future is Hidden in Lake Van: Underwater Technologies and Career Path for Youth Aged 14-18,” was supported by the Directorate General for Civil Society Relations of the Ministry of Interior. Led by cartographer Prof. Dr. Murat Yakar, the study utilized the Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) to distinguish water from land areas and map changes in the shoreline.