Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
A shallow, stream-fed, soda-rich lake situated on the high plateau of the Turkish-Georgian border zone. About 1,400 of the lake's 2,700 ha lie within Turkey, and this area includes 12 uninhabited and sparsely vegetated islands. Arable fields and grazing land adjoin the lake; there are a few small reedbeds (
Phragmites). Access is highly restricted for military reasons, and human disturbance is therefore minimal. Fishing is solely land-based.
One of three Turkish
Pelecanus onocrotalus breeding sites and one of seven
P.
crispus breeding sites.
Melanitta fusca is also thought to breed.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Plans exist to open the Aktaþ border post in order to improve trade and transport between the former USSR states and Turkey. This would increase traffic north of the lake.
National None
International None
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Aktaş Lake (Türkiye). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/aktaş-lake-iba-türkiye on 23/12/2024.
