Lake Tuz processing and refining. In 2001, Lake Tuz was declared a specially protected area, including all of the lake surface and surrounding waterbeds and some of the important neighboring steppe areas. The main Turkish breeding colony of greater flamingo ("Phoenicopterus roseus") is present on a group of islands in the southern part of the lake. Greater white-fronted goose ("Anser albifrons") is the second largest breeder here. Lesser kestrel ("Falco naumanni") is a common breeder in surrounding villages. Lake Tuz Lake Tuz ( meaning Salt Lake) is the second largest lake in Turkey with its surface area and one of the largest
Runfire Cappadocia Ultramarathon (Yüksekli Kilise), Güzelyurt, Avanos, Ihlara Valley, Mount Hasan and around Lake Tuz before crossing through Çavuşin and the Ürgüp and Göreme valleys, the marathon ends in Üçhisar, where it started. The longest daily stage is on salt flats around Lake Tuz with . The route features elevations between , valleys, salt lake flats, spectacular rock formations and UNESCO World Heritage sites as well as cave churches and galleries, historic underground cities that made Cappadocia a world-famous tourism destination. The event is accredited by Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc, one of the world’s most prestigious marathons. Finishers are awarded four points, which entitle