Sultan Sazlığı

Sultan Sazlığı sits in a closed basin on the Develi plain south of Kayseri, and its unusual feature is that it holds two kinds of wetland side by side: freshwater marsh fed by springs from Erciyes at the northern end, and shallow saline lakes at the southern, which supports a much wider range of species than either would alone. Over three hundred bird species have been recorded. Greater flamingos breed and feed here in numbers, along with pelicans, cranes, spoonbills, herons, and large flocks of waterfowl on passage; the basin sits on a migration route between Europe and Africa. Boats and guides work from the visitor centre at Ovaçiftlik, punting into the reeds, and there is an observation tower and a small museum. Water levels change a great deal from year to year, and in dry years the marsh shrinks. The area around Lake Yay has been a Ramsar site since 13 July 1994 and a national park since 17 March 2006, covering some 24,357 hectares at about a thousand metres.

What's there

• The flamingo flocks - on the saline lakes at the southern end.
• The reed marsh - freshwater beds fed from Erciyes.
• The observation tower - the view over the basin.
• The reed boats - punted trips into the marsh with guides.

When to go

March to May and September to November for migration and the largest numbers. Water levels are lowest in late summer and the marsh can be much reduced.

Things to know

Water levels vary greatly year to year and a dry season means far fewer birds. Bring binoculars. Boat trips and guides are hired at the entrance and are worth taking - the reeds hide everything from the bank.

Nearby

Mount Erciyes rises to the north; Soğanlı valley and Cappadocia are west.

Key facts