A First in Türkiye: Two Female Athletes Draw Attention to Drought in Lake Beyşehir

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The page, which keeps its finger on the pulse of the outdoor world with its powerful communication network that brings together nature lovers, also offers an indispensable resource for those exploring Türkiye with its province-specific travel guides. The platform aims to raise environmental awareness and prioritizes sustainability and respect for biodiversity while engaging in outdoor activities. 🌿

Lake Beyşehir , known as Konya's turquoise lake, has been facing a rapidly increasing threat of drought in recent years. Turkey's largest freshwater lake, Lake Beyşehir, is now on the verge of drying up. To highlight this distressing situation, two courageous athletes from Turkey and Azerbaijan organized a meaningful event.

In the event, held under the leadership of the Beyşehir Culture and Tourism Association as part of September 1st World Peace Day , Neslihan Gürcan from Turkey and Nüşabe Paşazade from Azerbaijan set out on a special course on the lake to draw attention to the lake's drought problem.

Two female athletes aimed to cross Lake Beyşehir end-to-end using SUP (Stand Up Paddle) . This journey, undertaken in extremely challenging conditions, marked a first in Turkey. Nüşabe Paşazade successfully completed the two-day course, making sports history and raising significant awareness for the lake's future.

Making a statement about the event, Beyşehir Culture and Tourism Association President Mustafa Büyükkafalı said the following:

"It will be a very challenging course, but our athletes love challenges and love Beyşehir very much. The threat of drought in Lake Beyşehir has deeply affected us all. Our goal is to draw attention to the lake."

These words were the strongest evidence that the event was not just a sporting activity but also a fight for nature.

There are many reasons why Lake Beyşehir has come to the point of drying up:

• Climate change and global warming
• Wrong irrigation methods
• Depletion of groundwater resources
• Unconscious water use in agriculture

Being Türkiye's largest freshwater lake and of vital importance to both the ecosystem and the local people, Lake Beyşehir is in danger of extinction.

This event was not only a sporting achievement but also a meaningful message for nature. The courageous fight of the two female athletes brought the lake's danger to the public both within Türkiye and internationally.

We extend our gratitude to all individuals and institutions who supported this event organized by the Beyşehir Culture and Tourism Association. Our athletes, Neslihan Gürcan and Nüşabe Paşazade , are among the finest examples of environmentally friendly sports and the power of women in sports.

As TurkeyOutdoor , Turkey's gateway to nature, we wholeheartedly congratulate the athletes who participated in this meaningful event and Mustafa Büyükkafalı , the director of the Beyşehir Culture and Tourism Association.

Lake Beyşehir is a treasure not just for Konya, but for all of Türkiye. We must all protect this treasure and take steps to protect it before it disappears.

👉 For more information: Instagram: @beysehirtrekking_ Instagram: @mustafa_buyukkafali

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