Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
A shallow freshwater lake fed mainly by surface run-off, and surrounded by grassy plains and arable land. When the water-level drops, the entire lake is gradually colonized by temporary vegetation˜in late summer it is practically dry. Human activities include cattle-grazing.
The area is also important for wintering waterbirds. No information is available on the ornithological importance of the lake prior to drainage.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The IBA is situated on a route frequently used by low-flying military jets, which can cause considerable disturbance to birds. It is over 25 years since the lake was partly drained˜the soils created are still largely saline and not utilized by farmers, and it is unclear whether they will ever be of sufficient quality to justify the drainage scheme. Restoration would be technically feasible.
National High
International None830 ha of IBA covered by SÝT (Samsam Gölü, 830 ha).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Samsam Lake (Türkiye). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/samsam-lake-iba-türkiye on 23/11/2024.
