Salda Lake documentary to screen at IAC 2026

The documentary “Salda: A Bridge to the Red Planet,” about Turkey’s Salda Lake and its geological similarities to Mars, will be screened on Oct. 9 during the Public Day of the 77th International Astronautical Congress (IAC).

Operative Information Center-OMM reports that the 72-minute documentary, produced by Anadolu, examines the geological, ecological and biological features of Salda Lake in Burdur province in southwestern Turkey, as well as its strategic importance for Mars research.

Directed and produced by Atakan Kerküklü, the film presents scientific findings from leading Turkish and U.S. scientists, Earth science specialists, biologists and experts from the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Alongside the lake’s unusual geological structure, the documentary highlights the importance of protecting its fragile natural ecosystem.

The world’s largest space event, organized by the International Astronautical Federation (IAF), is being held from Oct. 5 to 9 at the NEST Congress and Exhibition Center in Antalya. The congress is organized under the coordination of Turkey’s Ministry of Industry and Technology and co-hosted by the Turkish Space Agency (TUA) and SAHA Istanbul.