Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
A slightly saline lake (max. 6,708 ha, max. depth 25 m) situated south-east of the Büyük Menderes delta (site 022) and enclosed by mountain ranges, except in the west where the land opens towards the Menderes plain. The lake is fed principally by river water, and contains four islands. Its western shores are shallow and support extensive marshes. Fisheries are the main economic activity, and the lake is a popular tourist destination.
An important site for breeding waders and large numbers of wintering waterbirds.
Pelecanus crispus occurs throughout the year, with birds coming mainly from site 022. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria:
Haliaeetus albicilla (2 breeding pairs).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Reductions in inflow have occurred as a result of levee and dam construction and abstraction for irrigation. The water-level had to be artificially raised by DSÝ after large areas dried up in 1990. Fish stocks have declined as a result of over-fishing and the lake/river connection being severed. A large housing complex is planned to the south of the lake. Illegal hunting is frequently observed. DHKD is involved in developing a management plan in cooperation with the Nature Park authorities, and runs a bird observatory.
National High
International None12,281 ha of IBA covered by Nature Park (Bafa Gölü, 12,281 ha). 12,281 ha of IBA covered by SÝT (Bafa Gölü, 12,281 ha).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Bafa Lake (Türkiye). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/bafa-lake-iba-türkiye on 23/11/2024.
