IQ049
Qadissiya Lake


Country/territory: Iraq

IBA criteria met: A1 (2014)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here

Area: 145,230 hectares (1,452.30 km2)

Nature Iraq
IBA conservation status
Year of assessment (most recent) State (condition) Pressure (threat) Response (action)
2014 not assessed high very low
For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here


Site description (2014 baseline)
Haditha Dam, which creates Qadissiya Lake, is an important strategic facility in northwestern Iraq located within Wadi Haditha in the Euphrates Valley. The towns of Anah and Rawa lie to the northwest. The dam has been functioning since the 1980s, providing electricity to Iraq’s western regions.

Key biodiversity
Additional Important Bird Observations: During the surveys a total of 30 species was recorded. In addition the site had breeding populations of two Sahara-Sindian Desert biome-restricted species but these did not trigger inclusion under A3 criterion. Other Important Fauna: Many individuals of Golden Jackal Canis aureus were observed and photographed. No fish survey took place.


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Qadissiya Lake (Iraq). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/qadissiya-lake-iba-iraq on 27/12/2024.