Uluabat Lake (782)
Turkey, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2016
National site name: Uluabat Gölü
Central coordinates: Latitude: 40.1667, Longitude: 28.5833
Elevation (m): 9 to 9
Area of KBA (km2): 245.14679
Protected area coverage (%): 77.93
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: 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.
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: 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.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (10%) | fisheries/aquaculture (60%) | hunting (30%) | water management (90%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 54 | |
| Forest | 46 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Agricultural intensification threatens the remaining natural deltaic habitats. A further reduction in the lake's inflow will result from the planned construction of a reservoir on a major tributary of the Mustafakemalpaþa river, 20 km south-east of the lake. The possible effects on the lake's ecosystem are unknown. Large quantities of urban and industrial waste and agricultural run-off enter the lake, and further nutrient enrichment may pose a serious threat. Despite existing regulations, out-of-season and excessive fishing is widespread.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transportation & service corridors | Roads & railroads | Ongoing |