Mada-kazak-kumluca Adası

This island, located within the borders of Şarkikaraağaç District, is the largest of the Beyşehir Lake islands with an area of 8220 hectares and is at the far end of the lake’s northwest. The highest hill of the island is 1350 m. The island, which is 35 km from Şarkikaraağaç, is 800 m from the shore. To the north of the island is Küçükkilise Island, and opposite it is Gedikli Village, affiliated with Şarkikaraağaç.

Among the Beyşehir Lake islands, apart from Mada Island, no permanent settlement has been seen on the other islands. Settlement on Mada Island has continued from the Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman Periods to the present day.

The rest of Mada Island, which has 800-900 dönüm of cultivable land, is covered with holm oak shrubs and juniper trees and is semi-rocky. On the island, in addition to natural plant species such as oak and juniper, there are also poplar and willow trees. Along with its natural beauty, Mada Island also has a very beautiful water spring.

It is suggested that the word “Made,” meaning “female animal” in Persian, may have been given as the name of this island. Since about 30-40 households of Russian (Don) Cossacks settled on Mada Island in 1866, this island is also called Kazak Island. According to historical data, it is known that non-Muslim Turks lived on the island before the Russian Cossacks. These non-Muslims are thought to have been Christian Karaman Turks. After the Cossacks left this island, a few Chechen families were settled on the island. After the Chechens, the Tırtar and Ötkünlü tribes settled on Mada Island. Since part of the shore is covered with red sands, the island was given its last name, "KUMLUCA."

The Russian Cossacks, who lived on Mada Island in their own world until approximately 1920, contributed to the fishing carried out in the region with new techniques when they settled here. They also brought to Beyşehir Lake the boats called “Kara Kayık,” which could carry a large 8-10 tons of fish.

Friedrich SARRE, in his work titled “Küçük Asya Seyahati,” while mentioning the Beyşehir islands, says, “If traces of the fairly large settlements existing in the Middle Ages had been discovered; it would be proven that these islands were the islands in the lakes of Pasgusa or Pungusa that Emperor Johannes Comnenus wanted to conquer in 1142, and there would even be no doubt that Pasgusa or Pungusa was the medieval name of Karalitis (Beyşehir Lake),” and states that the island mentioned may be “Mada Island.”

Transportation to Mada Island is provided by boats or by barges that can carry 15 tons of cargo. When the lake freezes, access can also be provided by walking across the lake. The island is mostly reached by boats, and vehicles are left on the mainland.

Bibliography: Berna Burcu Korucu Üçüncü-Hüseyin Muşmal, Tarihi Süreçte Beyşehir Gölü Adaları'nda İskan, Nüfus ve Sosyoekonomik Faaliyetler

Veli Karaca, Belgelerle Yenişarbademli,

Servet Somuncuoğlu, Don Kazakları. Address: Gedikli Köyü, Şarkikaraağaç/ ISPARTA