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The Tortum Valley, from the Waterfall to the Lake
Cultural

The Tortum Valley, from the Waterfall to the Lake

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When you leave Erzurum heading north on the road to Artvin, the flat plateau falls behind after a while and the road drops into the deep valley carved by the Tortum Stream. As the altitude falls the scenery changes; poplars, fruit orchards and steep rock faces begin.

Uzundere, Erzurum
Cultural
Radar Editör
October 19, 2026

About Trip

When you leave Erzurum heading north on the road to Artvin, the flat plateau falls behind after a while and the road drops into the deep valley carved by the Tortum Stream. As the altitude falls the scenery changes; poplars, fruit orchards and steep rock faces begin. This trip is about the two best known parts of that valley, Tortum Lake and the Tortum Waterfall. They are two faces of the same event: a stream blocked when a mountainside collapsed, a lake that built up behind the debris, and then water spilling over that natural dam to create today's waterfall. Giving a day to this place means seeing a green, water-rich side of Erzurum alongside the side known for winter and skiing.

A landscape created by a landslide

The Culture Portal and the publications of the Erzurum Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism write that the lake formed in the 1700s. The Turkish Wikipedia article on the Tortum Waterfall places the event around the middle of that century, while the article on Tortum Lake gives the year 1791; in other words the sources disagree on the exact date, but they all describe the same mechanism. A large mass that broke away from the slope known as Kemerlidağ blocked the Tortum Stream west of today's Balıklı village. The water of the stream gathered behind this barrier and became a long lake in a narrow, steep-sided valley.

According to the provincial directorate's tourism guide the lake is about ten kilometres long; the Culture Portal writes that it stretches eight kilometres along the valley. In places it narrows to just one hundred metres, and its deepest point is also about one hundred metres. Turkish Wikipedia notes that the lake consists of two separate basins divided by an underwater sill, and that the material carried by the stream each year is slowly filling the lake from the bottom. The same source records that between 1947 and 2010 the delta at the mouth of the stream advanced more than nine hundred metres into the lake; in other words this is a landscape that is still changing.

Where the surplus water of the lake overtops the landslide dam at its northern end, it pours into the Tev Valley. This is where the waterfall is born. The Culture Portal gives its height as forty-eight metres and its width as twenty-one metres; the provincial directorate's guide and Wikipedia say twenty-two metres for the width. A huge plunge pool has been hollowed out where the water lands. Wikipedia also notes that local people call the waterfall "sudökülen" in their own language, meaning the place where the water pours down.

The landslide also changed the course of the stream. According to Turkish Wikipedia, the water that overtops the dam joins the Tev stream coming down from Çağlayan Mountain, and after passing through a narrow gorge of about six hundred metres that it cut for itself, it returns to its old bed. According to the same source, the bed over which the waterfall plunges runs across layers of resistant limestone; these hard layers are the reason the water can fall as such a steep wall.

Getting there

The waterfall lies about one hundred kilometres north of Erzurum, within the boundaries of the Uzundere district. The road is the Erzurum to Artvin highway; according to the provincial directorate's guide it runs along the western shore of the lake, so if you come by car you watch the lake from above for a long stretch. The Culture Portal writes that the waterfall can be reached by the public transport vehicles running to Uzundere. The sources give different names for the departure point; the Culture Portal points to the western district terminal, while the directorate's nature brochure points to the eastern one. Before setting out, ask for the current departure point and times. A car makes it much easier to reach the viewpoints on the lake shore and the villages around it.

Coming from Erzurum, the natural order is to see the lake first and then the waterfall, because the road follows the lake and passes close to the dam at its northern end. You return along the same road; so a good plan is to visit the lake in the morning light, the waterfall in the afternoon, and on the way back in the evening to watch the colour of the lake change as the sun goes down.

What to do on the lake shore

The provincial directorate's guide writes that along the road there are places where you can view the lake from above, as well as a long glass terrace. On a still day the reflection of the mountains and clouds in the water is best seen from these points. The Culture Portal states that the Bozburun Peninsula, which reaches into the lake in front of Balıklı village, is one of the main stops for visitors, and that the wooded areas near the village are used as picnic grounds.

There is no road to the apple and apricot orchards on the far shore of the lake; the guide writes that they can only be reached by rowing boat. Boat trips on the lake are also possible. Cage fish farming is carried out in the lake; the Culture Portal records that trout and mirror carp are raised there.

For birdwatchers the real address is the southern end of the lake. The Culture Portal writes that there is a small bird paradise there, that the valley is a stopover for birds of prey, and that all four vulture species seen in Türkiye can be observed here. Do not forget your binoculars, and watch the upper parts of the rocky slopes, especially in the hours when the air warms up.

What to see at the waterfall

At the waterfall there is a viewing balcony, stairs running down on both sides, and a wooden bridge below that passes in front of the water. The provincial directorate's guide explains that you can go down the stairs to the foot of the waterfall, watch from the bridge, and climb back up by the stairs on the other side. In this way you see the same water first from above and then right at its base. In spring the spray can soak the people on the balcony; it is wise to bring a light rain jacket.

The stairs are steep and the steps can be wet. Wear shoes that do not slip, keep hold of small children and do not go beyond the railings. Approaching the plunge pool and the fast flowing water below is dangerous; although the Culture Portal writes that the pool is a natural setting suitable for water sports, such activities should only be done under the supervision of authorised people.

The waterfall also has a history of energy. The Culture Portal and Wikipedia note that a hydroelectric power plant was built here between 1952 and 1960. The Wikipedia article on the lake records that in 1971 and 1972 a small weir was built on top of the landslide dam, and that water is released from the lake both to the power plant and to the waterfall. This sharing is one reason why the flow of the waterfall changes with the season.

Season and time of day

The Culture Portal writes that the waterfall flows in all its glory especially in May and June, and that the water decreases after June. This matches the regime of the Tortum Stream itself: Wikipedia states that the stream's highest flow is measured in May and its lowest in August. Late spring, when the snow melts, is the best period for a waterfall whose roar can be heard from a distance. At the end of summer the waterfall thins out, but in return the orchards in the valley and the lake shore are at their liveliest.

The afternoon sun can form a rainbow in front of the waterfall; the directorate's nature brochure specifically mentions this rainbow, which is often seen in spring. The governorship has announced that the waterfall has been lit up and opened to night visits; check local sources before you go to see whether it is open in the evening.

Getting to know Uzundere

Uzundere, the district to which the lake and the waterfall belong, is itself a good place to spend a slow day. Turkish Wikipedia writes that the old name of the settlement was Azort, that it became a separate district in 1987 after being a sub-district of Tortum, and that it received the title of slow city in March 2016. The provincial directorate's tourism guide also describes Uzundere as Türkiye's eleventh slow city; this title means being part of an international network that puts local produce, a slower life and care for the environment first. The district centre is at an altitude of about one thousand one hundred metres; according to Wikipedia, because it lies inside the valley it sees no storms, and because it lies low its annual rainfall is small.

If you are looking for a historic stop in the valley, Engüzek Castle near the road that turns off to the Dikyar neighbourhood before Uzundere makes a good break. The Culture Portal writes that the castle was built in the Middle Ages on a steep rock commanding the Tortum Stream, that it is reached by driving about one kilometre after the bridge at the Dikyar junction, and that it can be visited by private car. According to the Culture Portal, the castle is also known as Dikyar Castle, after the village where it stands, and as Akçakale, after Akça Bey, who strengthened it in the period of the Anatolian principalities. It is built of rubble stone and lime mortar; in its courtyard there is a cistern and a two-storey section thought to have served as a watchtower, and outside the walls a tunnel runs down to the Tortum Stream. The structure was registered as a cultural property requiring protection in 2006. Even looking up from the road below, without climbing the rock, is enough to understand the position of the castle.

Practical notes

There are picnic areas on the lake shore and around the waterfall, but they get crowded at weekends and on public holidays. Weekdays and the early morning hours are calmer. Although the air in the valley is milder than in central Erzurum, it turns cool in the late afternoon; bring an extra layer.

When going on a boat trip or near the fish farming areas, do not enter villagers' orchards or private land without permission. When watching vultures and other birds of prey, do not approach nesting areas and do not make loud noises.

If you want to take home a local taste, look for Tortum sour fruit leather, which appears on the provincial directorate's list of geographical indications. Take your rubbish back with you; much of the beauty of this valley comes from the fact that it is still largely unspoilt. Check the official pages of the district and provincial institutions for current information on entry to the waterfall and the lighting arrangements.

Sources

Location - The Tortum Valley, from the Waterfall to the Lake

Trip Info
CityUzundere, Erzurum
TypeCultural
DateOctober 19, 2026
SourceRadar Editör
Radar TürkiyeAuthorRadar TürkiyeVisit SourceGet Directions