Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
A brackish lake (6,300 ha; max. depth 30 m) fed by springs and several streams. Extensive reedbeds (
Phragmites) are found along the east, south-east and northern shores. The delta consists of a labyrinth of (former) flood-plains, reedbeds, lakes and sand beaches. Arable land and forested hills surround the IBA, which also includes a few hundred hectares of
Liquidambar forest. Economic activities include greenhouse farming and cattle-grazing.
This is an important site for wintering waterbirds. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria:
Haliaeetus albicilla (thought to breed in the surrounds).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The wetland is polluted by agricultural run-off and untreated urban waste, although sewage treatment plants for Dalyan and Köyceðiz are now being constructed. Heavy tourist-boat traffic on the canals between the lake and the sea causes disturbance to birds and wave-damage to reedbeds. The MedSPA authority has developed a management plan for the entire area but only partial implementation has been achieved.
National None
International High8,000 ha of IBA covered by Mediterranean Specially Protected Area (Köyceðiz Dalyan, 38,500 ha).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Köyceğiz Lake (Türkiye). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/köyceğiz-lake-iba-türkiye on 23/11/2024.
