Drought Has Affected Everywhere!

The 3,200-year-old Eflatunpınar Water Monument in Konya's Beyşehir district has been defying drought with its uninterrupted flow since the reign of the Hittite King Tudhaliya IV. It also draws attention with its walls featuring God figures and a pool that hosts rare fish species.

Located in Konya's Beyşehir district, Eflatunpınar, constructed 3,200 years ago during the Late Hittite Period by King Tudhaliya IV over a natural water source, features a large pool and a rectangular structure built using relief techniques, attracting interest with its walls depicting gods and goddesses.

Built by assembling andesite stone blocks cut to complement one another, the water monument stands apart from other Hittite rock monuments thanks to its distinctive stone craftsmanship, the composition of its reliefs, and its arrangement as an open-air temple.

The historical water monument was long believed to be 3.5 meters high since 1837; however, excavations conducted by the Konya Museum Directorate in 1996- 1997 and 1999-2001 revealed that it is actually 7 meters high. Excavations also uncovered a sacred pool connected to the monument, measuring 30 meters in width and 34 meters in length. On the monument's façade, various figures are depicted on 19 stone blocks.

Situated 4 km from Sadıkhacı Neighbourhood, the water monument continues to welcome visitors even during dry months thanks to its rare system that collects flowing water in a pool for efficient use when needed.

The monument was included in UNESCO's World Heritage Tentative List in 2014 as the "Hittite Sacred Water Temple."

Beyşehir Culture and Tourism Association President Mustafa Büyükkafalı stated that the water has been flowing continuously for centuries.

Noting that the Hittites believed in the sanctity and abundance of water and built this monument to give thanks to the gods, Büyükkafalı said, "We can say that this water source, which has been flowing uninterruptedly for 3,200 years, is currently defying drought. For this reason, it receives visitors continuously throughout all seasons of the year."

THE POOL HOSTS SOME RARE FISH SPECIES

Büyükkafalı also noted that a facility built opposite the water monument provides visitors with an opportunity for short breaks.

Expressing their belief in the abundance of this centuries-old flowing water, Büyükkafalı said, "This water source is one of those that still, albeit slightly, feeds Beyşehir Lake. At the same time, some rare fish that escape from the lake can also be observed in the pool here; in a sense, it hosts fish species that we used to see in Beyşehir Lake long ago."