Gediz Delta

City: Izmir

Provinces: Karsiyaka, Menemen, Foca

Getting There: Flight to Izmir, followed by a journey of approximately one hour by road to the Delta.

Accommodation: Izmir City Centre, or the nearby resort of Foca have ample accommodation to suit all budgets.

Surface Area : 20400 Ha

Altitude: Sea level

Protection: partially

The Gediz Delta is an extensive coastal wetland consisting of bays, salt marshes, freshwater marshes, large saltpans and four lagoons are formed at the former mouth of the Gediz River, 25km north west of Izmir. In the late 19th century, the River was diverted in order to prevent the entrance to Izmir Bay from silting up. Local public awareness campaigns due to the recent wetland restoration project have resulted in the site becoming a well known wetland and a popular weekend destination for people from Izmir. There is a visitor centre, as well as  several bird observation towers.

Bird Species: Populations of Dalmatian Pelican Tepeli pelikan (35 pairs), flamingo (1450 pairs), lesser kestrel - küçük kerkenez (25 pairs), avocet -kılıçgaga (55 pairs), stone curlew - kocagöz (30 pairs), collared pratincole -bataklık kırlangıcı (35 pairs), Kentish plover - akça cılıbıt (1000 pairs), spur-winged plover mahmuzlu kızkuşu (50 pairs), Mediterranean gull Akdeniz martısı (900 pairs), little tern küçük sumru (205 pairs) and caspian tern Hazar sumrusu (100 pairs).

Huge number of water birds shelter here in winter, including pygmy cormorant küçük karabatak (max. 1000) and Dalmatian Pelican tepeli pelikan (max. 450).