Gaga Gölü

Gaga Lake is a small landslide lake tucked between slopes covered with hazelnut orchards, beside the highway that runs from Fatsa to Aybastı. The Ordu Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism places the lake at the tenth kilometre of the road when you drive from Fatsa towards Aybastı. Wikipedia instead refers to the eighth kilometre of the highway and to the Yassıtaş neighbourhood; this small difference between the sources does not change how close the lake is to the district centre. The Ordu inventory of the Ministry of Environment and Urbanisation locates the lake within the boundaries of Sefaköy and Yassıtaş, to the west of the Bolaman Stream. The story of the lake begins with a landslide. According to the ministry inventory, a large landslide affected an area of about six square kilometres between the Bolaman Stream and the Yassıtaş locality to the west. The hollow left behind by the sliding mass gradually filled with rain and groundwater, and the present lake was formed. The Provincial Directorate notes that this landslide developed on the surface of the Upper Cretaceous flysch of the area. Wikipedia reports that many hollows of different sizes appeared after the landslide, and that most of them later dried up or were drained by local people to open fields. Gaga is the largest of those hollows to survive to the present day. Gaga Lake also attracts scientific interest. Drawing on a 1993 study by Akkan and Gürgen, the ministry inventory writes that the lake formed differently from the typical landslide dammed lakes seen along the Black Sea. A doctoral thesis completed at Süleyman Demirel University in 2024 compared eight landslide dammed lakes in the Black Sea region and classified Gaga as a landslide dammed lake of a new type. The same thesis stresses that sudden and heavy rainfall played a part in the formation of Gaga. The dimensions of the lake are modest, but it is deep. The ministry inventory describes the lake at an elevation of about 67 metres, covering a little more than 69 thousand square metres, with an average depth of 15 metres. According to Wikipedia, the lake consists of two basins, and the large basin measures about 200 by 250 metres. To the west lies a further shallow section, linked by a low sill, whose depth does not exceed one or two metres. The small islet in the middle of the lake catches the eye at once, and Wikipedia notes that the islet is associated with the remains of an old structure. No stream flows into Gaga. According to the inventory, the lake has no natural inlet or outlet and is fed by rainfall and by underground spring water. Excess water is drained through an excavated channel, and this channel carries the water to the Bolaman River. For this reason the lake can overflow in rainy seasons, while in dry periods the water level clearly drops. Wikipedia writes that crayfish, carp and local fish species live in the lake, while the Provincial Directorate mentions four kinds of fish. The protected status of the lake is long established. The Trabzon Regional Board for the Protection of Cultural and Natural Heritage registered the area in 1995 and declared it a first and third degree natural protected area in 1999. Landscaping completed by the Ordu Metropolitan Municipality in 2024 added walking paths, a viewing terrace, photo spots, swings and a car park around the lake. As reported by Anadolu Agency, the lake welcomed around 200 thousand visitors in the first nine months of 2025 after the work was finished. The best way to begin a visit is to complete the walking path around the lake. Along the way you can watch water birds on the reedy shores and the woodland that comes down to the water; Anadolu Agency notes that the surroundings of the lake are home to many bird species. Looking from the viewing terrace towards the islet and the sill between the two basins makes it easier to understand how the landslide shaped the lake. The late afternoon sun turns the reeds golden, and the most rewarding light for photography comes at those hours. Canoeing depends on the season and on the operator, so ask about the current situation on site. Because the lake is a natural protected area, you should not damage the vegetation on the shore and should leave no litter behind. The area gets crowded at weekends and during public holidays, so weekday mornings suit a quiet walk better. To get there, simply follow the highway from the centre of Fatsa towards Aybastı, and there is a car park beside the lake. Those who want to come by public transport should get current information in the district about vehicles heading towards Aybastı. Gaga Lake is also a natural stop for a short break before climbing to the Perşembe Plateau further inland.