Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Pinal Airpark
Note the chrysanthemum crests.
Hachiman Bridge
Clarendon War Memorial.
Clarendon War Memorial
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Chefs Aruss Lerlerstkull and Atcharaporn Kiatthanawat lean into regional traditions.
Charmgang
The khao soi at Gedhawa comes with a rich, coconutty broth.
Gedhawa
At Nai Mong Hoi Thod, the oyster omelet is worth waiting for.
Nai Mong Hoi Thod
In this deceptively simple dish, top-quality ingredients are paramount.
Kor Panich
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
3 days ago
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
4 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
5 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
6 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Turkey Urfa Balıklıgöl

Balıklıgöl

A sacred lake with thousands of sacred carp and a biblical history.

Urfa, Turkey

Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Urfa - Balikli Lake (Sacred Lake)   http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~hulya/Personal/Plac...
Urfa - Balikli Lake (Sacred Lake)   http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~hulya/Personal/Plac...
  http://www.flickr.com/photos/irotzabal/100...
  http://www.flickr.com/photos/cemseye/36316...
  http://www.flickr.com/photos/charlesfred/3...
  http://www.flickr.com/photos/charlesfred/2...
  http://www.flickr.com/photos/58789412@N00/...
  http://www.flickr.com/photos/yeomans/95488...
  http://www.flickr.com/photos/charlesfred/2...
  http://www.flickr.com/photos/gogap/2571893...
Urfa   philoursmars
Urfa   philoursmars
Urfa - the sacred carps   philoursmars
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

This lake in Urfa, Turkey has many stories associated with its name. Some believe that it was the site of a story from the Old Testament where God tested the prophet Job. Others tell of a ruler who was cured by a handkerchief that had wiped the brow of Jesus. But Urfa's most famous tale concerns the prophet Abraham.

According to Jewish and Islamic tradition, Abraham was born and raised in Urfa. He incurred the wrath of King Nimrod when he declared war on idolatry and also won the heart of the king's daughter, Zeliha. Nimrod sentenced Abraham to death, and a huge pyre was built in the middle of the city. Miraculously, just as Abraham was tossed into the fire, the flames were transformed into water and the logs into fish.

Since then, Balıklıgöl, or the Pool of Abraham, has been considered sacred, along with the carp that swim in its waters. The Pool of Ayn-Zeliha is said to have been formed by Zeliha's tears and it is said that anyone who eats them will be struck blind.

Feeding the fish is not only encouraged but necessary, as the masses of swarming fish depend on the food of pilgrims, visitors, and tourists of Balikli Gol to keep them fed.

Related Tags

Water Monuments Peculiar Fountains Long Now Locations Sacred Spaces Outsider Architecture

Community Contributors

Edited By

philoursmars, mbison

  • philoursmars
  • mbison

Published

September 17, 2009

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://www.gatetoturkey.com/en/turkey_a_z_tour/01793/
Balıklıgöl
Urfa, 63000
Turkey
37.147387, 38.784528
Visit Website

Nearby Places

Gobekli Tepe

Örencik, Turkey

miles away

Harran Beehive Houses

Harran, Turkey

miles away

Nemrut Dagi

Kayadere, Turkey

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Turkey

Turkey

Middle East

Places 127
Stories 20

Nearby Places

Gobekli Tepe

Örencik, Turkey

miles away

Harran Beehive Houses

Harran, Turkey

miles away

Nemrut Dagi

Kayadere, Turkey

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Turkey

Turkey

Middle East

Places 127
Stories 20

Related Places

  • Rapa Nui, Chile

    "El Gigante" and the Moai of Rapa Nui

    The largest stone moai on Rapa Nui.

  • The Peace Fountain

    New York, New York

    The Peace Fountain at Cathedral of St. John the Divine

    A curious fountain that has no water and includes Satan, a crab, and 9 giraffes.

  • New England Peace Pagoda - Josh Latham

    Leverett, Massachusetts

    New England Peace Pagoda

    This rare symbol of Eastern philosophy in the West has been created over years of painstaking construction by the local community.

  • Wieliczka Salt Mine

    Wieliczka, Poland

    Wieliczka Salt Mine

    An underground city of salt.

  • (Flickr/Davidmag)

    Mexico City, Mexico

    Fuente de Tláloc

    Diego Rivera's massive tiled fountain and failed infrastructure project.

  • Épila, Spain

    Basanta - The House of God

    The quirky - and private - constructions of a secluded artist depict the house of God.

  • Chapel interior.

    St. Johnsbury, Vermont

    Dog Chapel

    A small chapel celebrating the spiritual bond between dogs and humans.

  • Entrance

    Singapore

    Haw Par Villa

    A Buddhist theme park brings you a Buddhist version of Hell.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.