Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
A natural brackish lagoon (20 m deep) situated west of Ýstanbul on the Sea of Marmara. Fringe vegetation is confined to an area of reedbed (
Phragmites) in the north of the lagoon. Unplanned buildings surround the site; the only relatively undisturbed area lies within the grounds of the nuclear energy research centre and military camp on the east shore. A motorway passes to the north.
The site holds significant numbers of wintering waterbirds.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The construction of a drinking water reservoir on the Sazlý stream has reduced freshwater inflow˜the lagoon may become more saline as a result of seawater intrusion. Urban and industrial pollution is a problem that will intensify with further development of the lake surrounds.
National None
International None
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Küçükçekmece Basin (Türkiye). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/küçükçekmece-basin-iba-türkiye on 23/12/2024.
