The "Simav Lake Area," located around the Çaysimav neighborhood and known today as agricultural land, has a history spanning thousands of years and is one of Turkey's most remarkable ecological transformation stories. From ancient times to the present, this region has been at the center of both abundance and the struggle between nature and humanity.
Below you can find a detailed history of the Simav Lake area from ancient times to the present:
Ancient Times and Early Settlements
The area around the lake and the Simav basin has a deep-rooted history dating back to the 4000s BC. The life opportunities provided by water and fertile soils have made the region attractive in every era.
Early Peoples and Phrygians:Until the 1200s BC, a people known as the Abait lived in the region, after which Phrygian tribes coming from Thrace and Çanakkale settled in the area.
Synaus and Ankyra:During the Hittite, Phrygian, and Roman (Byzantine) periods, two important ancient settlements existed: "Synaus" (present-day Simav) in the southeast of the lake and "Ankyra" (present-day Boğazköy) in the northwest.
Turkish Rule and the Ottoman Period
Due to its strategic location and water resources, the region was also an important transit and accommodation point during the Seljuk and Beylik periods.
First Conquest (1113):Simav and its surroundings were conquered by the Seljuk commander Emir Muhammet, but shortly after, they fell back into Byzantine hands.
Germiyanids (1305 - 1327):The founder of the Germiyan Beylik, I. Yakup Bey, rested his army's horses by the shores of Simav Lake while heading to the Alaşehir campaign. The definitive Turkish dominance in the region began in 1327 when Germiyanoğlu Çağaşan Mehmet Bey took the area from the Spanish Catalan mercenaries.
The Drying Process of Simav Lake (1959 - 1982)
Until the 1960s, Simav Lake was a shallow and natural freshwater lake covering an area of approximately 18,000 decares (2065 hectares), and its fate was completely changed by agricultural and health policies during the Republic period.
Reasons for Drying:The lake area turned into a swamp, especially in the summer months, leading to intense mosquito breeding and serious malaria diseases among the local population. Additionally, there was an aim to provide new and fertile agricultural lands to the local population with the increasing population.
Drainage Works:With a project planned by the State Water Works (DSI) in 1959 and initiated in 1961, the lake waters began to be drained through channels opened from Boğazköy.
Completion:It took approximately 20 years for the lake to completely dry up, and the drying process was officially completed in 1982.
Agricultural and Ecological Effects on the Lake Area
The vast land that emerged with the drying of the lake was leased by the Prime Ministry's Land and Agricultural Reform Directorate to thousands of farming families living in nearby settlements such as Çaysimav, Öreyler, Gümüşsu, Çitgöl, Naşa, and Güney.
Agricultural Production:The land began to be intensively used for the production of sunflowers, wheat, corn, barley, and especially the "Simav Lake Bean," which has gained nationwide fame.
Climatic Change:The ecological cost of the drying process has been heavy. The microclimate of the region has changed; while the average annual rainfall in the region between 1975 and 1981 was 1015 mm, this rate has decreased to 709 mm after the lake dried up, and there have been significant increases in regional temperatures.
Biological Loss:Fish species unique to the lake, frogs, and the habitats of migratory birds have been destroyed, and the wetland ecosystem has been largely devastated.
Today: Nature's Struggle to Reclaim the Lake Land
Today, the Simav lake area continues to be the heart of agricultural production on one hand, while on the other hand, it serves as a stage for nature's struggle to find its own balance.
Flooding:This area, originally a lake basin (a subsidence area), frequently becomes submerged again due to high groundwater levels and excessive rainfall/snowmelt during the winter-spring months. This situation sometimes damages thousands of acres of cultivated agricultural land.
Ground Subsidence and Issues:Geological issues such as the subsidence and burning of the drying organic peat soil are being observed.
Environmental Awareness:In recent years, with the pollution of the water channels running through the drained land and the effects of the global climate crisis, local environmental associations are discussing whether the lake area can be partially restored to its former wetland identity through ecological restoration.