Turkey's Lake Van earns Blue Flag status

VAN- Anadolu Agency

Lake Van in eastern Turkey has earned Blue Flag status, its mayor announced on July 4. 

“Van Lake will become a tourist destination for millions, especially from neighboring Iran,” said Van Mayor Fevzi Ozgokce.

The lake was given the status for its safety and access-related standards.

Lake Van, the country’s largest, is located in the eastern province of Van and it covers an area of more than 3,700 square kilometers. Its widest point is some 119 kilometers.

“Blue Flag” is an exclusive eco-label awarded by the Copenhagen-based nonprofit the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) to beaches and marinas that meet certain criteria such as water quality, environmental education and information, environmental management and safety.

With a total of 459 Blue Flag-certified beaches, Turkey ranks third in the world among 50 countries, the Environment and Urbanization Ministry stated on May 14.

Turkey had 140 Blue Flag-certified beaches in 2002. It joined the program in 1994 with only 12 Blue Flag beaches, according to the 2018 list by the Copenhagen-based Environmental FEE.