Kızılrmak Delta Bird Sanctuary

Also known as the Kızılırmak Delta Bird Sanctuary, it is the only wetland area on the Black Sea coast of our country. It covers an area of 56,000 hectares, containing 20 lakes of various sizes, large marshes, and reed beds, with its natural features remaining largely intact. With regard to the number of bird species it hosts, the sanctuary holds great importance not only for Türkiye but also for the global ecology. This area, designated as a Wildlife Conservation Area, includes the districts of Ondokuzmayıs, Bafra, and Alaçam. The Kızılırmak Delta, which is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List, plays a vital role for bird species that cross the Black Sea directly during migration. Approximately 35% of the 460 bird species recorded in Türkiye have been identified in the Kızılırmak Delta, and about 15% of them breed in the area.