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close| Location | Albania, Pogradec |
| Central coordinates | 20o 45.00' East 41o 0.00' North |
| IBA criteria | A1, A4i, A4iii, B1i |
| Area | 9,700 ha |
| Altitude | 750 m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2000 |
Ornithological information This is an important site for wintering waterfowl, the most numerous species being Fulica atra. Counts were carried out in 1995 and 1996 (numbers given refer to waterfowl numbers for the Albanian part of the lake only); 31,000 individuals (19 species) in 1995, 46,000 individuals (17 species) in January 1996 and 28,018 individuals (17 species) in 1997.
Site description A large freshwater lake shared with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (site 005); its total area is 34,800 ha. The lake has deep waters and stony shores with no reedbeds or other emergent vegetation. On the Albanian side all the surrounding area is cultivated, mainly with corn and wheat. The lake is used for many purposes, of which fisheries are the most important.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina | winter | 1996 | 726-1,405 individuals | good | A4i, B1i | Least Concern |
| Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula | winter | 1997 | 235 individuals | - | B1i | Least Concern |
| Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis | winter | 1997 | 991 individuals | - | A4i, B1i | Least Concern |
| Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus | winter | 1996 | 182-215 individuals | good | A1, A4i, B1i | Least Concern |
| Common Coot Fulica atra | winter | 1996 | 26,633-40,765 individuals | good | A4i, B1i | Least Concern |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | winter | 1996 | - | unknown | A4iii |
Protected areas
| Protected area | Designation | Area (ha) | Relationship with IBA | Overlap with IBA (ha) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AL002 Landscape Protected Area | Landscape Protected Area | 0 | protected area contains site | 9,700 |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | - | |
| Shrubland | Heathland | 5% |
| Wetlands (inland) | Standing freshwater | 85% |
| Coastline | - | |
| Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) | Arable land; Forestry plantations | 10% |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| agriculture | 5% |
| fisheries/aquaculture | 85% |
| tourism/recreation | 5% |
| hunting | 10% |
| forestry | 5% |
| urban/industrial/transport | 5% |
Management considerations The shores of Lake Ohrid are degraded, mainly as a result of cattle-grazing and the close proximity of a road. These factors mean that breeding possibilities for waterbirds are minimal along the whole shore. The lake is a proposed World Heritage Site. With an age of 2-4 million years, this is one of the most ancient lakes in the world, harbouring many endemic species among its aquatic fauna.
Protection status National High International None9,700 ha of IBA covered by Protected Landscape Area.
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Lake Ohrid. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 25/05/2013
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
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