Children living along the shores of Lake Van, the world’s largest alkaline lake, spend much of their summer swimming in its waters, where the lake’s alkaline properties and the sun gradually turn their hair blonde.
Lake Van, Türkiye’s largest lake, becomes a popular gathering place for children in lakeside neighborhoods when temperatures rise and schools close for the summer. Located about 1,700 meters (5,577 feet) above sea level, the lake covers 3,713 square kilometers (1,434 square miles) and reaches depths of up to 451 meters (1,480 feet) in some areas.
Known for its natural scenery, bays and soda-rich water, the lake also leaves a visible mark on many of the children who spend long hours swimming in it. Experts say both the lake’s alkaline water and exposure to sunlight contribute to the change in hair color.
“We swim in the lake every day. Our hair turns blonde,” said Miran Çikla, who lives in the Yaylıyaka neighborhood of Tuşba district. “I like my hair when it is blonde.”
Furkan Çikla, another child from the neighborhood, said the effect is common among children who regularly swim in Lake Van.
“The children who swim here have their hair turn blonde because of the soda in the water,” he said. “Blonde hair suits us and looks nicer. In winter, our hair turns black again.”
Teachers are sometimes surprised by the transformation, he added.
“When they see us, they say, ‘You dyed your hair,’ and tell us not to dye it. Then we explain what happened,” Furkan said.
For Ahmet Çikla, a fisherman from Yaylıyaka, the seasonal transformation is a familiar sight that has continued across generations.
“Because the children constantly swim in Lake Van during the summer, their hair turns blonde,” he said. “Most of them are happy about it, and we like it too.”
“The change is so dramatic that when you see a child in summer, you may not recognize them in winter,” he added. “Their hair becomes completely black. Swimming in the lake changes both their hair and their appearance.”
The hair does not immediately return to its original color, however. Çikla said it gradually darkens again over several months as new hair grows and the children get haircuts.
“We also grew up in this neighborhood on the shores of Lake Van,” he said. “When we swam in the lake as children, our hair turned blonde in the same way.”
In Dereağzı, a neighborhood in Gevaş district, local business owner Ercan Güven said the change can depend on what children do after leaving the water.
“As soon as schools close for the summer, these children come here to swim,” Güven said. “Those who wash their hair with fresh water after getting out of the lake do not experience much of a change. But the others’ hair turns blonde within about a month.”
Sefa Avşar, who also lives in Dereağzı, said he enjoys the summer transformation.
“My hair turns blonde because I swim in Lake Van,” he said. “I really like it. During the summer holiday, we come here with our friends and swim in Lake Van.”
