Şanlıurfa is a city in southeastern Turkey. The city was known as Edessa from Hellenistic times into Christian times and a legend according to which it was the hometown of Prophet Abraham.
About 20km northeast of the city is the famous Neolithic site of Göbeklitepe and 60km east from there Karahantepe. Currently the oldest structures built by man that have been found on earth.
Şanlıurfa Archaeology and Mosaic Museum part is also extremely impressive and definitely worth seeing while you are here. Artefacts from many excavations in Göbeklitepe, Karahantepe and the surrounding area are exhibited here.
Fish lake is definitely one of the place you should not miss in Urfa. The environment is already fascinating in itself and the lake is full of fish, but they are not ordinary - they are considered sacred.
No one eats or touches them. Because it is believed that this is where Prophet Abraham was thrown into the fire.
It is said that the fire turned into water and the wood turned into fish.