Tersakan Lake (791)
Turkey, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2004
National site name: Tersakan Gölü
Central coordinates: Latitude: 38.5667, Longitude: 33.0667
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 920 to 920
Area of KBA (km2): 114.89682
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A saline lake situated to the west of Tuz lake (site 072), fed by springs, surface run-off and drainage. Large areas of mudflat and small areas of freshwater marsh occur; otherwise the lake has virtually no fringe vegetation. Non-irrigated arable fields surround the lake, sheep graze the shores and mining takes place at the Alkim saltpans to the north.
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.
Additional biodiversity: In winter, significant numbers of wildfowl occur.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | hunting (10%) | not utilised (80%) | urban/industrial/transport (25%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 49 | |
| Desert | 37 | |
| Other | 14 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: It seems likely that the lake was previously less saline. However, no data exist on the ornithological importance of the lake before conversion to salt production.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | Abstraction of surface water (agricultural use) | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Agricultural & forestry effluents | Herbicides and pesticides | Ongoing |