Ever wonder what secrets lie beneath these calm waters? We are standing before K\u00fc\u00e7\u00e7ekmece G\u00f6l\u00fc. This lagoon holds stories spanning millennia.
K\u00fc\u00e7\u00e7ekmece G\u00f6l\u00fc sits between K\u00fc\u00e7\u00e7ekmece, Esenyurt and Avc\u0131lar. These are districts on Istanbul’s European side. State road D.100 borders it to the south. The O-3 motorway lies to the north.
Formed by a sandbank separating it from the Marmara Sea, K\u00fc\u00e7\u00e7ekmece G\u00f6l\u00fc is fed by the Nakka\u015f, Sazl\u0131dere and E\u015fkinoz streams. A narrow channel connects it to the sea. This maintains a delicate balance. Sometimes, seawater enters making it brackish.
K\u00fc\u00e7\u00e7ekmece G\u00f6l\u00fc stretches 10 km north to south. It is 6 km at its widest. The surface area covers 16 square km. Its deepest point reaches 22 meters.
However, K\u00fc\u00e7\u00e7ekmece G\u00f6l\u00fc faces challenges. Rapid urbanization and industrialization have polluted its waters. Today, the water isn’t safe for drinking.
Yet, life persists. Pygmy cormorants and great cormorants make their home here. Various waterbirds also thrive in this basin.
Intriguingly, K\u00fc\u00e7\u00e7ekmece G\u00f6l\u00fc cradles the ancient settlement of Bathonea. This settlement is around 1,600 years old. Archaeological finds here illuminate Istanbul’s history.
Discoveries include stone tools from early agriculture. Potsherds from the Neolithic and Iron Ages were also found. Amphora fragments hint at Hellenistic presence. Roman-era remains dot the landscape.
In 2011, a large cistern was found. It has bricks bearing Emperor Constantine’s signs. Two underground water tunnels were found in 2012. One connects to the cistern. The other leads to a still-used fountain. These structures suggest a past port city complete with a lighthouse and pier. Aerial views reveal old roads in a grid pattern.
Excavations suggest a massive earthquake destroyed Bathonea. The city was then abandoned. A human skull showed evidence of ancient brain surgery. It is a testament to early medical attempts.
K\u00fc\u00e7\u00e7ekmece G\u00f6l\u00fc also embraces modern activities. Since 2012, it hosts “Uni\u00e7ek”. This is a water sports festival for university students. Rowing, dragon boat racing and canoeing are featured. Wakeboarding and jet-skiing add to the spectacle. Galatasaray’s rowing division has been here since 1999. They have 120 racing boats.
Imagine the echoes of ancient lives mingling with the cheers of modern sports. K\u00fc\u00e7\u00e7ekmece G\u00f6l\u00fc stands as a testament to time’s passage. It connects us to both the distant past and the vibrant present.