Data Zone
Country/territory: Türkiye
IBA criteria met: A1, A4i, A4iii, B1i, B2 (2004)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 5,118 ha
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2016 | near favourable | high | medium |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (2000 baseline)
A freshwater lake situated west of Ýstanbul where the Karasu stream reaches the Marmara Sea. The stream was dammed to create a drinking water reservoir; during dry years less than 25% of the lake area remains flooded. Mudflats, sandbanks and reedbeds (Phragmites) have formed where silt deposition occurs. South of the dam is a brackish lake with reed fringes and islands. The lake is largely surrounded by arable land and, increasingly, industrial and residential development. Motorways cut across both ends of the lake.
Key biodiversity
This site is important for wintering and passage waterbirds. It also supports a range of breeding waterbirds. During autumn the arable land surrounding the lake can hold thousands of migrating Ciconia ciconia, which roost here before crossing the Boðaziçi (site 005). Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Aythya nyroca (thought to breed).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Büyükçekmece Lake (Türkiye). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/büyükçekmece-lake-iba-türkiye on 23/11/2024.