Göksu Delta

The Göksu delta covers a large area of lagoons, marsh, reed bed, dune and beach where the river meets the Mediterranean below Silifke, and it is one of the most important wetlands in Turkey - some 15,000 hectares, a Ramsar site since 1994 and an Important Bird Area since 2004, with 332 bird species recorded. Akgöl and Paradeniz are the main lagoons, with the smaller Kuğu and Arapalanı lakes, and the delta is a stronghold for the purple gallinule and the marbled teal, with flamingos, pelicans, herons and large numbers of wintering waterfowl; it sits on a migration route, so autumn and spring passage brings the highest counts. The dune beaches are nesting grounds for loggerhead and green turtles, with the season running through summer and marked nests, and the delta's freshwater channels hold the Nile soft-shelled turtle, a large and unusual reptile at the northern edge of its range here. Access is by farm tracks; a car and binoculars are the requirements.

The landscape

• The lagoons - Akgöl and Paradeniz and their waterfowl.
• The reed beds - purple gallinule and marbled teal habitat.
• The dune beaches - turtle nesting shore in summer.
• The river channels - where the soft-shelled turtles live.

When to go

October to April for the largest bird numbers and winter waterfowl; spring and autumn passage are best for variety. Turtle nesting runs through summer, with beach restrictions.

Before you go

There is no visitor centre or marked trail system - navigation is by farm tracks and a car is essential. Bring binoculars; birds are distant. Respect nesting-beach closures and do not drive on the sand.

Nearby

Silifke and its castle are upstream; Kızkalesi and the Cilician coast are east.

Key facts