Shur Gol, Yadegarlu and Dorgeh Sangi lakes (8069)
Iran, Islamic Republic of, Middle East
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1d, D1a
Year of last assessment: 1994
National site name: Shur Gol, Yadegarlu and Dorgeh Sangi lakes
Central coordinates: Latitude: 37.0167, Longitude: 45.5167
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 1290 to 1290
Area of KBA (km2): 36.09139
Protected area coverage (%): 99.99
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The lakes lie at 1,290 m on the plains to the south of Lake Uromiyeh, 7–10 km south of the south-east corner of the lake and c.30-35 km north-west of Mahabad. Shur Gol and the associated Hassanlu marshes (37°01'N 45°28'E, 2,000 ha) consist of a shallow, brackish to saline lake and marshland fed by local rainfall, springs, seepages and small streams. Flooding occurs in autumn and winter, but drainage is virtually closed and the complex dries out completely only in very dry years. The much smaller wetlands of Yadegarlu (37°02'N 45°32'E, 350 ha) and Dorgeh Sangi (36°59'N 45°34'E, 150 ha) lying a few kilometres to the east and south-east are shallow freshwater lakes with peripheral eutrophic marshes. Both are subject to wide fluctuations in water level, and are often completely frozen in winter. The extensive marshes at Shur Gol and Yadegarlu are dominated by Carex and grasses. There is relatively little aquatic vegetation at Dorgeh Sangi, where extensive bare mudflats are exposed when water is low. The surrounding land includes wheat fields on the rolling hills and plains to the north, and more intensive agriculture in the vicinity of the villages to the south.
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: See box for key species. The wetlands are especially important for breeding waterfowl, notably Plegadis falcinellus, Marmaronetta angustirostris, Oxyura leucocephala and Glareola pratincola, and passage ducks, Fulica atra and shorebirds, and large numbers of waterfowl visit to feed in summer, including Pelecanus onocrotalus (see box), Ciconia ciconia (150; also breeds in the area), Platalea leucorodia (100) and Phoenicopterus ruber (1,000). When not frozen, the lakes also support large numbers of wintering waterfowl, mainly dabbling ducks and F. atra. A small flock of Cygnus columbianus occurred regularly in the early 1970s (the only regular wintering site in Iran), but there have been no confirmed records of the species at the site since then. Anser albifrons and A. anser have been present in winter. Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | nature conservation and research (100%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 99 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 1 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: All three wetlands were designated as a single Ramsar Site of 2,500 ha in 1975 but there is no legal protection. Cornwallis (1976) recommended that Wildlife Refuges be established at Yadegarlu and Dorgeh Sangi lakes. There have been reports of wetland drainage for agriculture at Yadegarlu.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | Abstraction of ground water (agricultural use) | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Carp (1980), Cornwallis (1976), Ramsar Convention Bureau (1993), Scott (1976a,c).