Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
A freshwater marsh comprising extensive
Phragmites and
Typha beds interspersed with areas of open water. The only water-supply is run-off from the surrounding hills and a number of springs. Arable fields and pasture border the marsh in the east and west; extensive poplar plantations are found to the north and north-east. Cattle graze the marshes, and reed-cutting takes place (`Other' land-use).
This site is important for breeding waterbirds. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria:
Oxyura leucocephala (thought to breed). The site was of much greater importance before water-levels were lowered.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Irrigation water is extracted from the marshes, and as a result the wetland area has decreased drastically over recent decades. The SEKA state paper factory discharges waste water into Karamýk Sazlýðý, with the risk of nutrient enrichment. Local people are complaining about the decreasing quality and height of reed as a result of this pollution. Out-of-season fishing takes place on a large scale.
National High
International None4,100 ha of IBA covered by SÝT (Karamýk Gölü, 4,100 ha).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Karamık Marshes (Türkiye). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/karamık-marshes-iba-türkiye on 23/11/2024.
