Salda Lake, which has been in the focus of the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for a long time and has therefore been flooded by people, has been brought to the agenda today with an important news. It has been announced that the project carried out to determine the microbial ecology of Lake Salda in Burdur has been completed.
Microbial species, which play an important role in microbial evolution, were discovered by NASA in Lake Salda, a place where research is carried out especially because it resembles the environment of the red planet Mars. The lake was mapped from this angle. In the statements made, it was stated that the decision to establish a science research center in the Salda Lake basin was taken.
Important data obtained will be transferred to NASA
Boğaziçi University, speaking about the project carried out in partnership with Istanbul Technical University and the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change. Deputy Director of the Institute of Environmental Sciences Prof. Dr. Bahar İnce emphasized that Salda Lake contains very important clues for understanding the evolution of bacterial species on the earth’s surface. Ince continued his explanation as follows:
“In Salda Lake, which has a very rich microbiological potential, bacteria families that we think contain important clues in microbial evolution in the world are densely located. The first gene sequences of microorganisms in Salda Lake were obtained to be patented on internationally prestigious platforms. All of this will provide a qualified data bank for NASA’s studies on Mars.”
A science base is being established in Salda Lake:
Prof. Dr. Bahar İnce also announced that the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change decided to establish a science research center in the Salda Lake basin. İnce stated that this center will start its activities in the near future and that interdisciplinary scientists will take place in the center. He also added that it is aimed to carry out advanced scientific research projects with international collaborations and that it is desired to be a platform that will contribute to young researchers in our country.