Turkey heatwave prompts makeshift pools, swim lessons

Rising summer temperatures across Turkey have prompted residents to seek relief in natural water sites. In late July, people in Kahramanmaraş flocked to the spring‑fed pool at Küçükcerit Gözü, a shaded, tree‑lined spot, to escape the city heat. Local officials warned that the surge in visitors to rivers, lakes and irrigation canals heightened drowning risks, urging the public to use supervised pools and highlighting recent safety training efforts.

By early August, the heatwave’s impact spread to eastern Turkey, where children in Muş turned the nearby Çar Çayı into an improvised summer beach, building small pools along the riverbank. The river became a popular gathering place for youngsters, offering a local alternative to coastal cooling.

As the heatwave intensified, towns across the country introduced additional coping measures. In Yüksekova, families constructed tarp‑lined pools in front of homes, providing a safe swimming area away from river currents. Later in August, Yüksekova’s high‑altitude Sat Gölleri lakes displayed a striking dual‑season scene, with lingering snow beside blooming alpine flowers. In the Vezirli neighbourhood, residents built a tarpaulin‑lined pool with stones and water, giving children a secure place to cool off as temperatures topped 30 °C.

In Malatya, children used decorative park pools despite warnings about electrical hazards. Antalya’s Muratpaşa district opened an ice‑skating rink kept at sub‑zero temperatures and launched free swimming lessons for children aged 6‑14 at the Süleyman Erol Olympic Swimming Pool. These community‑driven initiatives illustrate how local authorities and families are adapting to extreme heat while emphasizing safety and water‑skill education.