Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
A saline lake (max. 2,330 ha) north-east of Kayseri, separated from the Kýzýlýrmak river by a low mountain range and fed mainly by surface run-off. Extensive areas of mudflat, saltmarsh and freshwater marsh occur along the eastern shore; vegetation along the southern and south-eastern shores is dominated by
Juncus. The lake is surrounded by arable land, orchards and pasture, and largely dries up during summer.
A WIWO study undertaken in spring 1988 revealed that the IBA is an important stop-over site for several wader species.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
In 1995 DSÝ started constructing the Bahçelik reservoir on the Zamantý river, 55 km south-east of the IBA. The lake's water-level may drop as a result of this scheme, leading to the permanent loss of valuable marsh areas.
National High
International None2,720 ha of IBA covered by SÝT (Palas Gölü, 2,720 ha).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Palas Lake (Türkiye). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/palas-lake-iba-türkiye on 23/12/2024.
