Data Zone
Country/territory: Iran, Islamic Republic of
IBA criteria met: A1, A4i, A4iii, B1i, B2 (1994)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 1,230 hectares (12.30 km2)
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 1994 | not assessed | high | not assessed |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (1994 baseline)
The lake lies on the coastal plain of the Caspian Sea, c.12 km north of Langarud, fed by springs and local run-off; at high water levels, it drains north through a small stream into the Caspian. It is a rather deep, permanent, freshwater lake with rich growth of floating and submergent vegetation, extensive beds of Typha and Phragmites and some Salix thickets. The open areas of the lake support abundant submerged and floating vegetation including Nelumbium, Lemna, Potamogeton, Hydrilla, Myriophyllum and Ceratophyllum. Surrounding areas are largely cultivated with rice. The lake is important for duck hunting and provides water for irrigation. Land ownership is public.
Key biodiversity
See box for key species. A very important wintering area for diving ducks, notably Netta rufina, and for Fulica atra and Phalacrocorax pygmeus. Up to 20 Circus aeruginosus are present in winter. Rallus aquaticus and Carduelis spinus also winter. A pair of Haliaeetus albicilla nested close to the lake in the 1970s and may still do so. At least 101 species have been recorded in the reserve.
Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Acknowledgements
Data-sheet compiled by Dr D. A. Scott, reviewed by Dept of Environment.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Amirkelayeh lake (Iran, Islamic Republic of). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/amirkelayeh-lake-iba-iran-islamic-republic-of on 27/12/2024.