Ramsar Sites of Turkey - Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

than Kizilirmak River are Engiz and Pilic stream with Darbogaz and Mera streams at the
east <strong>of</strong> Bafra Plain and Ilyasli Stream, Gokcesu, Sogutluk, Gokcebogaz and Ulucay
(Alacam) streams at the east <strong>of</strong> Bafra Plain.
Natural circumstances creating delta and coast structure in east and west part <strong>of</strong>
Kizilirmak Delta are the reason <strong>of</strong> different size <strong>of</strong> lakes. There are ten lakes at east
coast;; namely Balik, Uzun, Gici, Tatli, Alintili, Parali, Cernek, Liman, Tuzlu and Suluklu
lakes and two lakes at west coast <strong>of</strong> Kizilirmak Delta which are Karabogaz and Mulk
lakes.
Kizilirmak Delta, as many <strong>of</strong> the coastal wetland systems, suffers from pollution.
Main reason <strong>of</strong> the pollution in surface and underground water <strong>of</strong> Kizilirmak Delta is
chemicals used for agricultural activities. Kizilirmak River in the boarders <strong>of</strong> the delta
does not meet the drinking water values because <strong>of</strong> this pollution.
While operating <strong>of</strong> the waste water treatment unit in Bafra district helps to
improve the water quality, it is still not at the required level <strong>of</strong> water quality in the
wetlands system <strong>of</strong> Kizilirmak Delta.
Geological Features
Kizilirmak Delta, rises in steps from sea to the south, has an alluvial plain
characteristic with a low slope, mainly composed <strong>of</strong> gravel, sand, silt and clay.
Main part <strong>of</strong> the land in Kizilirmak Basin consists <strong>of</strong> soil under water (hydrmorphic
soil) in the wetlands and reed fields. There are coastal dunes at sea sides, brown forest
soils at inner sides and kind <strong>of</strong> soil formed by sediments (colluvial) <strong>of</strong> surface water and
adjacent rivers
Biological Features
Habitats
There are 3 main habitat types in Kizilirmak Delta which are classified as
threatened according to Bern <strong>Convention</strong> criteria: Auxin saline swamps, South Black Sea
permanent dunes, Southeast Europe ash-oak forests. There are 14 habitat types
identified as a result <strong>of</strong> studies undertaken in the frame <strong>of</strong> Kizilirmak Delta Management
Plan Sub-Projects.
Bitter lake mirror: Balik, Uzun, Cernek, Liman, Karabogaz and Mulk Lakes have been
classified as bitter lakes by salt ratio. In Liman Lake, there is rich vegetation <strong>of</strong> rock
plants from Characeae family.
Freshwater lake mirror: Tatli and Gici lakes are freshwater lakes. Many species <strong>of</strong>
Potamogeton Family and other water plants are very rare at the east lakes <strong>of</strong> Delta. In
coastal sides <strong>of</strong> lakes, Phragmites australis and Thypa sp. or Juncus acutus are seen.
River: This habitat includes Kizilirmak River bed, and Geleric Forest nearby <strong>of</strong> the river.
Wet meadows: Some periods <strong>of</strong> the year, wet meadow land close to the lakes are
accumulated with water. That is Paspalum paspalodes meadow land. Apart from this
species, some <strong>of</strong> the plant species live in the salt and freswater wetlands. These
meadows have high importance due to being one <strong>of</strong> the main resources for livestock
grazing.
Mixed wide leaved forests: Generally, Quercus robur and Carpinus betulus species
form these forests.
Reedy lands: This habitat grop includes Phragmites australis and Typha angustifolia,
in patches Schoenoplectus lacustris groups.
Salty marshes: Juncus littoralis - Artemisia santonicum - Tamarix - Vitex agnus-castus
and in saltier areas Salicornia europaea are dominant species.
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