A crystal-clear Turkish lake that has been around since the melting of the ice age has been dug up by treasure hunters who left behind a muddy pond in its place, sparking outrage in the country.
The incident took place in Dipsiz Lake in the 12,000-year-old area of Dipsizgol, in Taskopru Plateau near the city of Gumushane in the northern Turkish province of the same name.
The site, located around 2,140 metres (7021 feet) above sea level, became the target of treasure hunters who drained it to find the rumoured loot.
Upon learning of the rumours of lost treasure, two unnamed men reportedly obtained the necessary permissions and started a four-day excavation.
During the dig, the water was drained and the lakebed was dug up with specialist equipment.
However, no treasure was found at the site and the lake was left destroyed, sparking outrage among environmental groups and netizens.
Following the backlash, the local authorities attempted to restore the ancient lake to its former glory with the help of environmental agencies, academics, and geologists.
The old soil was removed and calcareous, clayey soil was spread along the lakebed before being filled with natural spring water drained from a nearby creek through pipelines.
The authorities fenced off the area, and the process continued for around a month until the lake started to hold the water.
Dipsiz Lake where the blue water of the lake is replaced by yellow, muddy water 
Dipsiz Lake before with blue water
However, as seen in the images, the attempt to restore the ancient lake, which previously boasted crystal-clear blue water, was left looking murky and dirty.
The local authorities claimed the water’s colour was caused by rainfall that day and that the lake would become more beautiful than it was before.
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Story By: Tuba Gök, Sub-Editor: Joana Mihajlovska, Agency: Newsflash
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