Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
A freshwater lake (max. depth 61 m) formerly connected to the Sea of Marmara and fed by the Sakarya river. Arable land, fruit orchards and extensive
Populus plantations surround the lake. Narrow reedbeds (
Phragmites) fringe most of its shores; only at the eastern end does substantial marsh vegetation occur. Lake water is abstracted for industrial use.
The site is important for wintering wildfowl.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The lake is facing severe pollution problems from rapidly developing industries in its catchment, and from untreated sewage and agricultural run-off. Sapanca has become popular as a second-home resort; construction is taking place on the forested hillsides south of the lake.
National High
International None4,700 ha of IBA covered by Drinking Water Reservoir (Sapanca Gölü, 4,700 ha). 4,700 ha of IBA covered by SÝT (Sapanca Gölü, 4,700 ha).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Sapanca Lake (Türkiye). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/sapanca-lake-iba-türkiye on 23/11/2024.
