Blue Lake (Dereli)

Mavi Göl (the Blue Lake) is a turquoise natural wonder set inside Kuzalan Nature Park, a 482-hectare protected area declared in 2013 in the Kuzalan quarter of Alancık village, within the Dereli district of Giresun.

Formation & the Colour's Secret

The lake forms where the Aksu and Göksu streams meet; the Göksu, flowing westward from that junction, is the only soda-bearing stream known in Turkey's Black Sea Region. The limestone and soda dissolved in the water refract sunlight and give the lake its distinctive turquoise-blue hue. Strictly speaking it is not a single body of water but a chain of five bowl-shaped pools, the largest roughly thirty metres across. The colour shifts with the seasons: as the snowmelt begins in late May the water turns from green to blue, and from the first week of July it becomes fully turquoise, transforming the valley into an open-air photography stage for Turkish and foreign travellers alike.

Nature Park & Popularity

Within the same park, right beside the lake, stand the Kuzalan Waterfall and the Göksu travertines; a single ticket admits visitors to both the lake and the falls. Drawing around two hundred thousand visitors a year, it is one of the most sought-after natural stops in the Eastern Black Sea. Agencies favour Mavi Göl for its easy access and immediate visual impact: turquoise water in the heart of a green forest makes a strong impression within minutes and provides a flawless break on day tours.

Visiting, Access & Tips

The average visit lasts one to two hours, extending to half a day when combined with the waterfall walk and the travertines. Guided itineraries usually pair it with the Kümbet and Bektaş plateaus along the Giresun-Dereli nature route. The best photographs are taken from the wooden footbridge between the pools and where the turquoise water meets the surrounding forest, a striking blue-green contrast. The most sensible way to arrive is by private car, as there is no regular public transport from Dereli centre to the lake; most visitors come with their own vehicle or on a day tour. Free parking and space for tour coaches to manoeuvre are available at the entrance, though the final kilometres are narrow and winding. For visitors with disabilities access is limited, as the ground is natural and stony; only the flat sections near the entrance can be partly navigated by wheelchair. The ideal season is July to September, when the water is at its most vivid turquoise, which is also the peak period; winter snow and ice make access difficult.