Lake Zokun’s Floating Islands set to become tourist hotspot

Published on : Monday, April 5, 2021

Located in the Tortum district of the eastern province of Erzurum, the Floating Islands in Lake Zokun are all set to be added to Turkey’s plethora of tourism hotspots. Lake Zokun is situated five kilometers from the center of Tortum and some 55 kilometers from the province’s center. The plan oversees the construction of a tourist facility that will be finished in a year and will cost around 4.5 million Turkish Liras ($551,000).

Erzurum, a city dating back to antiquity and has hosted several civilizations throughout history, has recently become a popular tourist hotspot due to its internationally acknowledged ski resorts, alongside its historical sites. The latest plan includes cooperation with local producers to obtain local goods to be sold at the facility’s restaurant. Around 1 million local and international tourists visited Erzurum in 2019.

Oktay Guven, Secretary-General, the Northeastern Anatolia Development Agency (KUDAKA), said in a statement that a tourist facility, walking tracks, an observation terrace and parking lots will be constructed near the lake so that tourists can see the six floating islands. It was also informed that the plan belongs to the local municipality and that with the start of tourism in the area, the income of locals is expected to increase.