ANKARA. – Over 50 thousand tons of uranium was discovered by Turkish scientists in Lake Van during their attempt to determine the degree of lake’s pollution.

Elazig Firat University Professor Mehmet Yaman published an article in one of international journals on the results of his study about Lake Van and surrounding rivers, reports Turkish Radikal.

The newspaper says that in 2008 during his study on the degree of pollution of Lake Van, Yaman found that 1 liter of water contains up to 76 micrograms of uranium. According to his calculations, the underwater uranium mines are worth $7.5 billion.

Professor says that the uranium may be used for nuclear plants in Turkey, as well as for export purposes.