saline lake
A salt lake or saline lake is a landlocked body of water that has a concentration of salts (typically sodium chloride) and other dissolved minerals significantly higher than most lakes (often defined as at least three grams of salt per litre). ...
of
tectonic
Tectonics (; ) are the processes that control the structure and properties of the Earth's crust and its evolution through time. These include the processes of mountain building, the growth and behavior of the strong, old cores of continents k ...
origin, positioned at the frontier between
Burdur
Burdur is a city in southwestern Turkey. The seat of Burdur Province, it is located on the shore of Lake Burdur. Its estimated 2010 population is 78,389.
History
Ancient history
Whilst there is evidence of habitation in the province dating b ...
and
Isparta
Isparta is a city in western Turkey and the capital of Isparta Province. The city's population was 222,556 in 2010 and its elevation is 1035 m. It is known as the "City of Roses".
Isparta is well-connected to other parts of Turkey via roads. Ant ...
provinces in southwestern
Turkey
Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a list of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolia, Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with ...
. It has an area of 250 km2 and a maximum depth variously reported at between 50 and 110 m. The water level in the lake fluctuates. Lake Burdur is also an important wetland site for many bird species and is designated a
Ramsar site
A Ramsar site is a wetland site designated to be of international importance under the Ramsar Convention,8 ha (O)
*** Permanent 8 ha (P)
*** Seasonal Intermittent < 8 ha(Ts)
**
Turkish Lakes Region The Turkish Lake District or Turkish Lakeland ( tr, Göller Yöresi) is an area with a series of shallow tectonic lakes within the folds of the Taurus Mountains in Southwestern Anatolia, TurkeyDominic Whiting (2001) "Turkey Handbook", p. 439/ref>
...
in south-western Anatolia (37°43′351′′ N, 30°10′878′′ E), within a closed basin. The catchment area is 6150 km2. The average depth is 40 m and the maximum depth is 68 m. The maximum surface area is 140 km2 at an elevation of 854 m. It is salty and highly alkaline (pH 9.5) and it never freezes.
Lake Burdur is one of the deepest lakes in Turkey. Aquatic plants are not observed in the lake because of the amount of sodium sulphate and chlorine content. Since the lake does not freeze in winter, it serves as a winter refuge for the birds. The ecosystem of the lake is threatened by the presence of an industrial complex and an airport close to the northern shore. The decrease in water levels (because of construction of upstream dams and unknown causes), the increase of sedimentation (from catchment erosion), organic pollution (from food processing and Burdur City raw sewage waste), and inorganic effluent (from a sulphur mine) represent long-term threats to the integrity of the lake. The water level has decreased from 1975 to 2002 due to the construction of dams and ponds in the catchment basin, resulting in the loss of 27% of the lake area during the period of 27 years. Nowadays, the estimated lake area ranges between 140 km2 and 153 km2.
Lake Burdur has great ornithological importance, harbouring numerous wintering bird species. It is the most important wintering site in the world for the
white-headed duck
The white-headed duck (''Oxyura leucocephala'') is a small diving duck some long. The male has a white head with black crown, a blue bill, and reddish-grey plumage. The female has a dark bill and rather duller colouring. Its breeding habitat is ...
, a globally threatened species. It has also served as a habitat for 10 other internationally important waterfowl species. Lake Burdur has been a Ramsar Site since 1993 and a Wildlife Reserve since 1994. ''Aphanius anatoliae sureyanus'' (the only fish species) and ''A. burduricus'' are endemic species of the lake.
The formation of the lake began 5 million years ago as a tectonic depression (The burdur area is in a first grade earthquake zone). It is known that the lake maintained its fresh water character for a long period of time. The altitude in the
Plio-Pleistocene
The Plio-Pleistocene is an informally described geological pseudo-period, which begins about 5 million years ago (Mya) and, drawing forward, combines the time ranges of the formally defined Pliocene and Pleistocene epochs—marking from about 5&nbs ...
period was 100 m higher, so the lake extended in a NE–SW direction. In the late Pleistocene period, salinization and shrinking of the lake began, which is a process in progress today. Since 1975, an altitude change of -10 m and a 27% volume loss have been recorded. The main causes of these figures are dams and ponds built on the lake's main sources, such as the Bozcay stream; the severe drought between 1988 and 1995; and, most notably, the extensive use of aquifers by local farmers.
BirdLife International
BirdLife International is a global partnership of non-governmental organizations that strives to conserve birds and their habitats. BirdLife International's priorities include preventing extinction of bird species, identifying and safeguarding ...
{{Ramsar sites in Turkey
Burdur
Burdur is a city in southwestern Turkey. The seat of Burdur Province, it is located on the shore of Lake Burdur. Its estimated 2010 population is 78,389.
History
Ancient history
Whilst there is evidence of habitation in the province dating b ...