İğneada Floodplain Forests National Park
A rare ecosystem of floodplain forests, lakes, and dunes on the Black Sea coast.
The İğneada Floodplain Forests National Park, established on November 13, 2007, is a protected area in Kırklareli Province within the Marmara region of East Thrace, the European part of Turkey. It covers 3155 ha near the town of İğneada on the Turkish-Bulgarian border. The park is notable for its rare ecosystem of marsh, swamp, lakes, and coastal sand dunes formed by streams from the Strandzha mountain range.
Quick Facts
- Location
- Kırklareli Province, Turkey
- Nearest city
- İğneada, Demirköy
- Area
- 3,155 ha / 12.2 sq mi
- Established
- 13 November 2007
- Governing body
- Directorate-General of Nature Protection and National Parks; Ministry of Environment and Forest
Facts from the source article.
Did You Know?
- Lake Erikli, a 43 ha lagoon, gets separated from the sea in summer due to drought.
- Lake Mert, covering 266 ha, is formed by Çavuşdere creek at its mouth.
- The park can be reached by public transportation from Istanbul via Silivri, Çorlu, Lüleburgaz, Pınarhisar, Demirköy, and İğneada.
Ecosystem
The 10 km long dunes host plant species unique to the southwestern Black Sea region and are protected by international agreement. The park includes swamp and non-evergreen mixed wood, with vine species being the most distinct plants. Trees include European ash, oak, alder, beech, and maple. Fish species present are trout, smelt, and grey mullet. Birds observed include white-tailed eagle, European green woodpecker, owl, grey heron, European cuckoo, kingfisher, black stork, and hoopoe. Mammals include wildcat, wild boar, hare, European pine marten, European badger, grey wolf, deer, fox, European otter, yellow-necked mouse, weasel, big-eared bat, and variegated skunk. Reptiles found are Hermann's tortoise, southern crested newt, lizard, asp, and earringed water snake.
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