Data Zone
Country/territory: North Macedonia
IBA criteria met: A1, A4i, B1i, B2, B3 (2008)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 19,598 hectares (195.98 km2)
Site description (2000 baseline)
A very large inland freshwater lake, surrounded by mountains and extending into Albania (Albanian site 003) and Greece (Limni Megali Prespa, Greek site 047). The area given is the entire area of the lake.
Key biodiversity
No data are available for breeding birds. The International Waterfowl Census counts (in the Macedonian sector) in winters 1987 and 1988 recorded (1988 data unless stated) Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis (40), Netta rufina (80; 150 in 1987), Aythya fuligula (8,000) and Fulica atra (5,950). Additional reports of non-breeding birds include Podiceps cristatus (1,300), Pelecanus crispus (58), Anser anser (200) and Mergus merganser (90).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Lake Prespa (North Macedonia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/lake-prespa-iba-north-macedonia on 23/12/2024.