Although the lakes are polluted and infested with mosquitoes, the picnic areas and lakeside restaurants of Gölbaşı serve as a popular retreat from the city for the people of Ankara.

A number of government departments have accommodations here, and the town is slowly but surely joining up with the city as the green space between the two disappears.

Archaeological research in the area has revealed since 3000 BC a succession of civilısations including Hittites, Phrygians, Greeks ,Romans, and Byzantines.

Excavated sites include Selametli, Tuluntaş, Tuluntaş-Ortaçayır, Kızılcaşar-Gökçepınar, Karagedik, Bacılar, Bezirhane Kültepe, Bezirhane-Kepenekçi and İncek-Harmantepe.

The area has long been occupied by Turks, and it was here that Timur hid his elephants in the woods before the Battle of Ankara.