Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
A highly alkaline lake (max. depth 30 m) situated in a tectonic depression 20 km east of Lake Van (site 096). It has steep rocky shores on the northern and western sides; in the east and south the shores are shallow with mudflats. The Memedik river enters the lake in the east, forming a small delta with reedbeds (
Phragmites) and wet meadows. Human activities include stock-grazing.
This site is important for breeding and passage waterbirds.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The water-level has risen dramatically in recent years, inundating a village, 1,000 ha of arable land and meadows, and the Turkey- Iran railway. DSÝ plans to construct a hydroelectric power- station west of the lake˜the ecological impacts of this proposal are unknown.
National None
International None
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Erçek Lake (Türkiye). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/erçek-lake-iba-türkiye on 22/11/2024.
