TR025
Acıgöl Lake This is an IBA in Danger! 


Country/territory: Türkiye
Subnational region(s): Afyon; Denizli

IBA Justification: A1, A4i, B1i, B2 (2004)

Area: 32,739 hectares (327.39 km2)

BirdLife Partner(s): Doga Dernegi

Conservation status of the Important Bird Area (IBA)
Year of assessment (most recent) State (condition) Pressure (threat) Response (action)
2016 very unfavourable very high low

© OpenStreetMap contributors
Scale = 1 : 433K
10 km
5 mi

Site description (2000 baseline)
A shallow, stream- and spring-fed saline lake (max. 16,500 ha) of tectonic origin. Freshwater marshes have developed around the springs; the lake supplies irrigation water and largely dries up during summer. The plain to the south-west comprises salt-steppe; the land to the north-east is intensively farmed. The site includes a complex of small freshwater lakes 10 km south-west of Acýgöl. Human activities include stock-grazing, salt extraction and reed-cutting (`Other' land-use).

Key biodiversity
The site is important for breeding waterbirds, although numbers have fallen in recent years, possibly due to low water-levels. Tadorna ferruginea occurs throughout the year, and breeds in the surrounding mountains. Acýgöl was formerly important for breeding Otis tarda; it seems certain that a small population survives.


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Acıgöl Lake (Türkiye). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/acıgöl-lake-iba-türkiye on 12/01/2025.