Borçka Karagöl: Forest Lake Below the Karçal Mountains

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1. What is Borçka Karagöl?
2. How do you get to Borçka Karagöl?
3. When is the best time to visit Borçka Karagöl?
4. What is the history of Borçka Karagöl?
5. What is Borçka Karagöl famous for?
6. What can you do at Borçka Karagöl?
7. Frequently asked questions about Borçka Karagöl
8. What do the official records say about Borçka Karagöl?

What is Borçka Karagöl?

Borçka Karagöl, the “Black Lake” of Borçka, is a mountain lake in thick forest in the province of Artvin, close to the Georgian border. It lies northwest of the Karçal Mountains at about 1,450 metres, with forested slopes rising steeply from the water, which looks dark, almost black, in the shade of the trees; hence the name.

The lake was formed when a landslide blocked a valley and the water backed up behind it; an outflow channel now drains it. It is actually two lakes, a larger and a smaller one. The larger covers about 50,000 m² and is around 25 metres deep at its deepest. Since 2002 the lake and the forest around it have been protected as a nature park of about 368 hectares.

How do you get to Borçka Karagöl?

Karagöl is about 25 km from Borçka town. From Borçka, follow the road towards Camili (Macahel) and the Georgian border, then turn off onto the side road that climbs through the forest to the lake. In 2002 the inventory described the route as 27 km along the Borçka–Camili road, then a 20 km earth road to the lake; current sources give about 25 km from Borçka town. Expect a narrow, winding mountain road for the last part.

Borçka is on the main road between Hopa and Artvin. The nearest airport is Rize–Artvin Airport at Pazar; Batumi in Georgia, across the Sarp border crossing, is also close. The easiest way to reach the lake is by car, taxi or tour. A visit combines well with a trip to Macahel, further along the same road.

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When is the best time to visit Borçka Karagöl?

October is the famous month. The deciduous trees in the forest turn red, orange and yellow, and their reflections in the still water draw photographers from all over Türkiye. Weekends at the peak of the colour can be crowded.

From June to September the lake is green and quiet, good for walks and picnics. In winter Karagöl often freezes and lies under snow, which makes for a very different picture, but check the road before setting out. Spring brings fresh green leaves and full streams, though the weather can be wet.

What is the history of Borçka Karagöl?

Karagöl is a natural lake created by a landslide at some point in the past, when part of a slope collapsed and dammed a stream valley.

The 2002 inventory listed Borçka Karagöl among Artvin’s plateaus and noted that its infrastructure problems had not yet been solved. On 14 August 2002, the same year, the lake and its surroundings were declared a nature park (tabiat parkı), giving it protected status.

The lake lies within the Eastern Black Sea Mountains, which the inventory describes as the only area in Türkiye recognised as an Important Bird Area because it represents the Eurasian alpine biome. The forests around Karagöl are part of that habitat, home to the birds of prey that are often seen circling above the water.

What is Borçka Karagöl famous for?

• Autumn colour. The lake’s reflections of red and gold leaves make it one of the most photographed autumn views in Türkiye.
• Forest wildlife. The inventory notes that lynx, brown bear, hook-horned mountain goat, mountain fowl and birds of prey can be seen in the surrounding forest.
• Winter ice. In cold winters the lake freezes over and is covered in snow.

What can you do at Borçka Karagöl?

Walk by the lake. Walking, camping and photography are the main activities here; the forest around the shore gives changing views of the water and the mountains behind.

Photograph the reflections. Early morning, before wind ruffles the surface, is the best time for reflections, especially in autumn.

Fish for trout. The inventory notes that trout can be caught in the lake; check current nature-park rules and permits locally before fishing.

Watch for wildlife. Birds of prey are often seen over the forest, and the larger mammals listed in the inventory live in the surrounding woods, though they are rarely seen by day visitors.

Continue to Macahel. The Camili basin, a UNESCO biosphere reserve on the Georgian border, is reached on the same road from Borçka. See our guide to Macahel.

Plan a loop. With a car, a good day from Hopa or Artvin combines the lake with the Camili valley and a stop in Borçka on the way back. Bring a warm layer even in summer: at around 1,450 metres the lake is much cooler than the coast, and mist can settle over the water in the afternoon.

Frequently asked questions about Borçka Karagöl

What do the official records say about Borçka Karagöl?

Karagöl is reached by leaving the Borçka–Camili road, whose first 7 kilometres are asphalt, at the 27th kilometre and following the earth road that turns east for 20 km.

In the forests around the lake, lynx, brown bear, hook-horned mountain goat, mountain fowl and birds of prey can be watched, and trout can be caught in the lake. All the infrastructure problems have not yet been solved. (Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Artvin Provincial Tourism Inventory, 2002)