Çıldır Lake Festivals

Each year, festivals hold a significant place in the cultural life of Çıldır. During the summer, the Çıldır Lake Summer Festival is held, and in winter, the Altın At Crystal Ice Festival takes place. Festival grounds are established around the Çıldır Municipality Social Facilities, and both local residents and visitors from neighboring provinces and abroad attend the events. Activities such as horse-drawn sledging, rahvan horse racing, horseback archery, cirit, ice skating, wrestling, and off-road demonstrations are part of the festival program. Additionally, fishing under the ice is also organized.

Frozen Çıldır Lake (Anadolu Agency)

Çıldır Lake

Located in northeastern Türkiye, on the borders of Ardahan and Kars provinces, Çıldır Lake is the largest freshwater lake in Eastern Anatolia with a surface area of 123 km². Situated at an elevation of approximately 1959 meters above sea level, the lake freezes completely during winter months, its surface covered by ice up to 50 centimeters thick. It is a natural dam lake formed by volcanic lava flows and debris accumulations.

Altın At Crystal Ice Festival

The Altın At Crystal Ice Festival is a traditional winter festival held on the frozen surface of Çıldır Lake in the Çıldır district of Ardahan province in northeastern Türkiye. First organized in 2017, the event aims to utilize the lake’s natural winter freezing as a platform for cultural and sporting activities.

The festival is organized annually in January or February, when the ice thickness reaches a level capable of supporting human and animal weight. The event serves an important function beyond mere entertainment: it preserves and promotes the region’s unique cultural values. Organized under the leadership of the Ardahan Governorship and Çıldır Municipality, the festival contributes to regional tourism and seeks to introduce traditional sports to younger generations. Folk dance performances, mehter band concerts, and local handicraft stalls accompany the festival activities.

^{Altın At Crystal Ice Festival (}Anadolu Agency^)

Çıldır Lake Summer Festival

During the summer season, tourism activities have diversified thanks to the Çıldır Lake Sailing Club, established in 2018 under the leadership of the Kars Governorship. This initiative, carried out in cooperation with the Turkish Sailing Federation, has ensured the lake’s use throughout the year rather than being limited to winter. Canoe and sailing competitions held in the summer months play a vital role in promoting the lake and are among the notable examples of inland water events in Türkiye.

Çıldır Lake Summer Festival (Çıldır District Governorship, Republic of Türkiye)