A science base is being established in Salda Lake: It will shed light on the trace of life on Mars

The mineral and rock structure of Salda Lake, located in Burdur, resembles Mars billions of years ago. NASA stated that Jezero Crater on Mars hosted a lake and a river 3.5 billion years ago, and the mineral structure of this lake is very similar to Lake Salda. In the light of microbial fossils on Earth, signs of life on Mars are being investigated. Therefore, the password for life on Mars may be hidden in Salda. It was decided to establish a science base here to solve the mystery of Salda Lake.

The microbiological structure of Lake Salda was investigated with the studies carried out by Boğaziçi University, Istanbul Technical University and the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change. As a result of the researches, it was concluded that the structure in the lake may contain important clues about microbial evolution. The first gene sequences of microorganisms in Salda Lake were obtained to be patented on internationally prestigious platforms. The data obtained from Salda Lake will also be used by the American Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in Mars research.

Science Research Center to be established

Announcing that the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change decided to establish a science research center in the Salda Lake basin, Boğaziçi University Environmental Sciences Institute Deputy Director Prof. Dr. Bahar İnce said, “Preparations are underway for this center to start its activities in the near future. Interdisciplinary scientists will take place in the center. It is also aimed to carry out advanced scientific research projects with international cooperation. It is also desired that it be a platform that will contribute to the young researchers of our country.” prof. Dr. İnce said that studies should be carried out to protect the microbial ecology of the lake.