Sunken Minaret

The Sunken Minaret of Bafra is the minaret of a mosque that was submerged beneath the waters of the Derbent Dam constructed on the Kızılırmak on in the Boğazkaya Neighborhood of Bafra district, Samsun. Between the late 1980s and 1990, as a result of construction work carried out by the State Water Ministry, approximately 200 building homes in Boğazkaya were submerged, yet the mosque’s minaret survived without collapsing and remains visible to this day.

Region has become a tourist recording center offering activities such as safari tours, angling, and photography, thanks to the natural landscape formed by the dam lake. Due to fluctuations in water levels, the branches of a 750-year-old plane tree located beside the minaret have reemerged above the surface. Wetlands supporting natural habitats, rare bird species, and wild horses contribute to the ecological diversity of the region. Accommodation facilities, restaurants, and tourism enterprises have been established in the surrounding area, attracting particularly photographers and nature enthusiasts.

Located approximately 44 kilometers from the center of Samsun city and 13 kilometers from the center of Bafra district, the Sunken Minaret is easily accessible by road and stands out as a destination suitable for both individual travelers and group tours. The region’s tourist and natural potential continues to grow each year, and various initiatives are underway to preserve not only nature-based tourism around the Derbent Dam but also its historical and cultural heritage.

Bafra Sunken Minaret