“Salda Lake is a living laboratory for the development of the first life forms on Earth. It is not possible to find such a laboratory in the world,” said Prof. Dr. Candan Gokceoglu, member of the Environment and Natural Heritage Scientific Board.
Prof. Dr. Candan Gokceoglu is also a faculty member at Hacettepe University Department of Geological Engineering, and he is a Member of the Science Board of Environment and Natural Heritage. Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA), he shared on one of NASA’s social media accounts that the main reason for sending the “Perseverance Mars Rover” rover spacecraft to the Jezero Crater was to search for traces of life in this crater, similar to some of the original forms of living bacteria in Salda.
Stating that the Jezero Crater was also a lake, the rivers discharged here and the presence of carbonate minerals here were observed by NASA, Gokceoglu said, “There are hydromagnetic minerals formed as a result of the activity of cyanobacteria in Salda Lake, these are carbonate minerals. Similar structures have also been observed in the Jezero Crater.”
“Mars’ past will be seriously enlightened”
Gokceoglu, emphasizing that the ongoing activity in Salda Lake is the first known living activity in the world, said, “It is estimated that this type of living activity similar to that on Earth is on the surface of Mars. According to NASA sources, they have a plan that “This vehicle sent to Mars will take some samples there, stack these samples in a certain place, and then these samples will be brought to earth with another spacecraft to be sent.” The history of Mars will be seriously enlightened by examining the samples to be brought from there.”
Pointing out that they can trace alluvial deposits when looking at the surface shape around the Jezero Crater, Gokceoglu stated that if the samples taken by the spacecraft are examined and the magnesite-type carbonate minerals produced as a result of the primary bacterial activity are detected there, Mars can also speak of a life form like the world for a while.
“Salda has a unique scientific feature”
Explaining that NASA’s research plan was based on his observations in Salda, Gokceoglu said, “The geological and mineralogical structure in Jezero resembles Salda, which gave hope to scientists at NASA. Salda has a unique scientific feature in this respect. They will evaluate every result from there and compare it with the current conditions of Salda Lake. Therefore, the scientific value of Salda Lake will increase with these developments. “
Pointing out that geochemistry and hydrogeology researchers of Turkey should pay more attention to this issue, Gokceoglu stated that the protection measures of Salda Lake are also very important.
“It is not possible to find such a laboratory in the world”
Gokceoglu pointed out that such special areas such as Salda are serious scientific laboratories on their own and said:
“Salda Lake will attract more attention in the near future and it is obvious that more scientific work will be done here. Salda is a living laboratory for the development of the first life forms in the world. It is not possible to find such a laboratory in the world. If it is our duty to protect Salda’s current situation. Many parts of the world have carbonate minerals and magnesites, but what makes Salda important is that the primary life forms currently continue in their natural processes. This lake is the rare region in the world where primitive creatures seen 3.45 billion years ago are now the most typical. When we look at Salda Lake from this perspective, it is unique in the world.”
“It will become popular in many research aspects around the world”
Referring to NASA’s pursuit of proving the similarities between Jezero and Salda, Gokceoglu made the following evaluations:
“If these similarities are proven, the existence of water in liquid form will be proved for a while on Mars. It will be proved that the surface shapes there are by the movement of water. There is a weak atmosphere in Mars, and if there is water in liquid form, this will indicate the existence of the primeval life. According to these findings, “What happened to Mars that started life has disappeared or can a life start again in the future?” or “Can a life be started by human influence?” Answers to questions will be sought. Therefore, this study of NASA is very important. Salda’s popularity will only increase once their similarity to Mars is proven. It will become popular not only in Turkey but also in many research aspects in the world. Perhaps in the near future we will need to protect even more Salda than current safeguards.”
Source: AA / Translated by Irem Yildiz