The magnificent 1,600-year-old architecture is hidden under Turkish lake

Photographs of the lake from above clearly show a giant architecture beneath.

An old 1,600-year-old church has just been found beneath a lake in Turkey, according to The Sun.

The 1,600-year-old ancient church beneath Iznik lake.

Ruins of a Christian church were discovered in Lake Iznik . The church was built around 390 AD (AD). At that time, Iznik Lake area was Nicaea city.

The church lies below the lake surface about 3m, 50m from the shore.

Professor Mustafa Sahin, head of archeology at Bursa University Uludağ, said: "When I first saw the picture of the lake, I was surprised to see such a clear church structure. I surveyed Iznik on the field since 2006 and at that time did not see such a magnificent structure. '

Archaeologists have unearthed a part of the church since 2015, using a powerful vacuum hose system. These hoses attract soil from the church to the shore, where they are carefully screened.

The church was built around 390 AD (AD).

Mr Sahin said the church could have been built on top of a temple worshiping Apollo, a Greek god.

In 740, an earthquake destroyed the church, causing it to sink. The ruins of the church were then flooded and forgotten until today.

Professor Sahin and the leader of the local government are now calling for the place to be Turkey's first underwater archaeological sanctuary.

If the plan to build an underwater museum is approved, the construction process may begin this year and be open to visitors in 2019, Sahin said.