TR009
Uluabat Lake


Country/territory: Türkiye

IBA criteria met: A1, A4i, A4iii, B1i, B2, B3 (2004)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here

Area: 24,490 hectares (244.90 km2)

Doga Dernegi
IBA conservation status
Year of assessment (most recent) State (condition) Pressure (threat) Response (action)
2016 moderate medium medium
For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here


Site description (2000 baseline)
A large, shallow (max. depth 6 m), nutrient-rich freshwater lake on the south side of the Sea of Marmara. The lake is fed principally by the Mustafakemalpaþa river and contains four islands. Silt deposition has formed an inland delta largely under agriculture; the western and southern shores of the lake support vast reedbeds (Phragmites). Fisheries are the main economic activity; lake water is used for irrigation.

Key biodiversity
This site is important for both breeding and wintering waterbirds. Up to 429,500 waterbirds were present in winter 1996, representing the highest count at any Turkish site since 1970.


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Uluabat Lake (Türkiye). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/uluabat-lake-iba-türkiye on 23/12/2024.