Wet and Dry

At the entrance to the national park, next to the bird museum: Sultan Sazlığı National Park in the Turkish province of Kayseri is one of the most impressive wetlands in Anatolia. The massive Erciyes Dağı volcano, at almost 4,000 meters, is ever-present. Between reed beds, salt lakes, and wide plains, the protected area provides a habitat for hundreds of bird species, including flamingos and pelicans, which rest or breed here.

However, this sensitive ecosystem is under pressure: falling water levels caused by intensive agriculture and climate fluctuations are threatening biodiversity. Conservationists are therefore calling for more sustainable water management in order to preserve this unique natural area in the long term. The area was placed under protection in 1971 and declared a nature reserve in 1988. | Turkey