Lake Prespa (127)
North Macedonia, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2016
National site name: Prespansko Ezero
Central coordinates: Latitude: 40.9367, Longitude: 21.0075
Elevation (m): 0 to 900
Area of KBA (km2): 197.70388
Protected area coverage (%): 98.96
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A very large inland freshwater lake, surrounded by mountains and extending into Albania (Albanian site 003) and Greece (Limni Megali Prespa, Greek site 047). The area given is the entire area of the lake.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs. KBA identified in the CEPF Ecosystem Profile of the Mediterranean Hotspot (2017). Taxonomy, nomenclature and global threat category follow the 2016 IUCN Red List.
Additional biodiversity: No data are available for breeding birds. The International Waterfowl Census counts (in the Macedonian sector) in winters 1987 and 1988 recorded (1988 data unless stated) Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis (40), Netta rufina (80; 150 in 1987), Aythya fuligula (8,000) and Fulica atra (5,950). Additional reports of non-breeding birds include Podiceps cristatus (1,300), Pelecanus crispus (58), Anser anser (200) and Mergus merganser (90).
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 2 | |
| Forest | 1 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 97 |