A series of activities have been held by the Ardahan Governor’s Office on Lake Çıldır, which is covered by a sheet of ice 30 centimeters thick, in order to promote the lake for tourism. The most exciting event was the horse and sleigh competition. Six competitors with sleighs struggled to win, although minor accidents occurred during the competition due to snow on the frozen lake. Ardahan Governor Mustafa Tekmen congratulated the competition’s participants.The activities also included an ice fishing show. Then, a Caucasus folk dance show took place, and musicians from the Çıldır district played the bağlama, a traditional Turkish instrument, singing folk songs.
Stating that the lake is beautiful both during winter and summer, Governor Tekmen said they aim to organize sailing activities on the lake during the summer. Pointing out that they aired the activities on a number of television channels in order to promote the lake, Tekmen said, “I invite everybody to see the lake, the natural beauty.”
The activities, which attracted widespread interest from Ardahan residents, were attended by Çıldır Governor Önder Çan, Çıldır Mayor Nurettin Aygün and Taşdemir Çoban, mayor of Hanak, a district in Ardahan.
