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Ruins of church discovered on bottom of Turkish lake

The ruins of a church have been discovered deep in a lake in Turkey's Black Sea region, a local official said Monday.

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Ruins of church discovered on bottom of Turkish lake

The ruins of the church-whose age is as yet unclear-were discovered during dives by an underwater archaeologist, said Uğur Topalak.

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Ruins of church discovered on bottom of Turkish lake

The depth of the lake ranges between 10 and 15 meters (33-50 feet) and it has a surface area of almost six hectares.

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Ruins of church discovered on bottom of Turkish lake

Over the millennia, Turkey has been home to people of various faiths, from ancient pagans, Christians, and now largely Muslims.

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Ruins of church discovered on bottom of Turkish lake

Turkey has worked to respect and restore remains left by non-Muslims. Topalak said that Lake Gaga, which is a natural protected area, will also be registered as an archeological site.