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close| Location | Turkey, Ardahan,Kars |
| Central coordinates | 43o 14.00' East 41o 1.00' North |
| IBA criteria | A1, A4i, B1i |
| Area | 20,810 ha |
| Altitude | 1,961 m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2004 |
Ornithological information Pelecanus sp. formerly bred on the islands. There are recent records of P. onocrotalus and occasional records of P. crispus, but breeding has not been proven for either species. Melanitta fusca is also thought to breed.
Site description A freshwater lake (max. 12,350 ha, max. depth 22 m) situated in a volcanic depression between Kýsýr and Akbaba mountains. Extensive marshes and damp pastures border the lake to the north-west, otherwise it is surrounded by hill pasture and has very little fringe vegetation. Four islands are vegetated with low shrub. Human activities include stock-grazing; water is used for hydroelectric power generation and irrigation.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea | unknown | 1989 | 350-480 individuals | - | A4i, B1i | Least Concern |
| Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus | non-breeding | 1989 | 30-50 individuals | poor | A1, A4i, B1i | Vulnerable |
| Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis | breeding | 1989 | 1,150-1,500 breeding pairs | - | A4i, B1i | Least Concern |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands (inland) | Standing freshwater; Water fringe vegetation | 95% |
| Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) | Arable land | 5% |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| fisheries/aquaculture | 5% |
| agriculture | 5% |
| urban/industrial/transport | 95% |
| water management | 95% |
Management considerations DSÝ plans to increase the lake volume by means of stream diversion. A second power-station will then be constructed, and the area of irrigated land will be increased. It is unclear what implications these works will have for the wetland system. Disturbance by visitors to the breeding islands may account for the disappearance of Pelecanus sp. which formerly bred. Further tourism development of the Akçakale area should be carefully planned.
Protection status National None International None
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Çıldır Lake. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 19/06/2013
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
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