Sultansazlığı National Park Tour

Sultan Sazlığı National Park and Soğanlı Valley Tour - 6 Hours

Located in the Central Anatolia Region, within the boundaries of Kayseri province, Sultan Sazlığı is situated within the triangle formed by the districts of Develi, Yahyalı, and Yeşilhisar.

To the north, it is bordered by Mount Erciyes (3916 m), to the east by the Develi, Akpınar, and Çiçekliyurt mountains (2074–2057 m), to the south by the Aladağlar range (average 3373 m) and Elmalı mountains (2235 m), and to the west by the Kartalkaya (1958 m) and İncil mountains (1759 m).

Geology of Sultan Sazlığı National Park: Geologically, the Develi Basin is formed from the oldest Devonian formations. Coral fauna from the middle Devonian (370-410 million years ago) is found south of Yahyalı. The formation of the lake basin began during the Miocene epoch and continued to fill with erosion materials during the Pleistocene and Holocene epochs, forming layers of Limestone, Basalt, Andesite, and Tuff. The basin has a flat structure with a 2% slope.

Climate of Sultan Sazlığı National Park: The Develi Basin experiences a typical continental climate of the Anatolian Plateau. Summers are dry and hot, while winters are cold with significant temperature differences between day and night and between seasons. The hottest months are July and August (34.2 - 35.5 °C), with the lowest recorded temperature at -18.3 °C. The annual average rainfall over the last 30 years is 363 mm.

Water Resources in Sultan Sazlığı National Park: Sultan Sazlığı covers 21,000 ha of the 100 km² area of the Develi Basin. The Sultan Sazlığı, located at the lowest point of the Develi closed basin, features fresh, saline, and slightly saline open water surfaces, vast reed beds and marshes, and surrounding wet meadows. The depth of Sultan Sazlığı is around 2 meters. The water level fluctuates by 40 to 60 cm depending on the season, affecting the surface area of the lake.

Main rivers feeding the area include the Yahyalı, Yeşilhisar, and Dündarlı streams, as well as the Develi stream and waters from Ağcaşar. During the spring, increased rainfall causes Sultan Sazlığı to expand and eventually discharge into the Yay Lake through the Yırtnak region to the north. The water from the Soysallı and Çayırözü springs in the northern part of the basin contributes to the Kepir reed beds, with sweet water flowing into Yay Lake during non-irrigation seasons. The rising water levels in the reeds enrich the ecosystem with organic matter, supporting dense bird populations.

Functions and Values of Sultan Sazlığı National Park: Wetlands play a crucial role in preserving biological diversity and ecological balance. They help recharge and discharge groundwater, mitigate the destructive effects of floods, regulate the water table, and improve local climate elements like precipitation and temperature by increasing humidity. They also enhance water quality by trapping sediments, nutrients, and pollutants.

Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems on earth, supporting a variety of species, including thousands of different organisms. Sultan Sazlığı, with its diverse habitats such as freshwater and saline ecosystems, extensive reed beds, and surrounding meadows and steppes, is a significant wetland in Turkey, Europe, and the Middle East. It serves as an open-air laboratory demonstrating complex ecological relationships and the creative power of nature. This makes it a popular destination for nature enthusiasts, birdwatchers, scientists, and researchers from around the world.

Sultan Sazlığı provides a valuable oasis in the semi-arid and arid climate of Central Anatolia, offering a favorable environment for animals to feed during the summer and autumn.

Flora and Vegetation of Sultan Sazlığı National Park: The region has a semi-arid climate with steppe or grassland vegetation. The basin floor presents a sparse grassland landscape. Wetland plants are prominent around the Desert Lake, Yay Lake, and Örtülüakar Reed Bed to the south. The majority of grassland plants in the basin are short-lived. The diverse ecological habitats, including freshwater and saline ecosystems, meadows, and steppes, support a rich flora with 65 genera and 177 species from 47 families.

Fauna and Ornithological Importance of Sultan Sazlığı National Park: In the wetland ecosystem and surrounding steppe areas, 35 species of Hymenoptera, 6 species of Odonata, 19 species of Mollusca, 3 species of Pisces, 3 species of Amphibians, 10 species of Reptiles, and 21 species of Mammals have been identified.

Notable mammals include hedgehogs, marsh shrews, bats, wolves, foxes, weasels, badgers, rabbits, blind rats, forest rats, mountain voles, and field voles.

The lakes and reeds are rich in frogs, salamander larvae, and small fish, which support the birdlife.

Ornithological Importance of Sultan Sazlığı National Park: Sultan Sazlığı is one of the most significant wetlands in Europe and the Middle East due to its rich birdlife. The diverse freshwater ecosystem, abundant in nutrients, provides ideal conditions for feeding, roosting, and breeding for numerous bird species. The area is on the migration routes between Africa, Asia, and Europe, making it a crucial habitat for migratory birds. A total of 301 bird species have been recorded, including 69 regularly and 18 occasionally wintering species. There are 119 breeding species.

Sultan Sazlığı is a key breeding site for endangered species such as the little cormorant, red-crested pochard, and ferruginous duck. Other important breeding birds include the heron, spoonbill, common snipe, gadwall, pintail, teal, black-winged stilt, sandpiper, common tern, whiskered tern, gull, and long-legged buzzard.

Flamingos breed irregularly in the region, with around 1500 pairs last recorded in Yay Lake in 1970.

During migration seasons, bird populations can reach significant numbers, exceeding half a million in September and October. The highest count of flamingos observed in a single day was 185,000 in Yay Lake in September 1997.

Bird populations peak in spring and autumn, with the lowest numbers in February, July, and August. Some birds remain in the area for winter.

Historical and Cultural Values of Sultan Sazlığı National Park: Research indicates that settlements in the region date back to ancient times. Excavations in nearby mounds have uncovered findings from the Early Bronze Age. The area is rich in remains from the Hittite and Roman periods, including sculptures depicting storm gods and Hittite kings and queens at Fraktin Monument and İmamkulu Monument. In Develi District, there are Turkish-Islamic period structures from the 13th century.

Human Activities in Sultan Sazlığı National Park:

• Agriculture: Agriculture is the primary livelihood of the local population. Sunflower and sugar beet cultivation are common in irrigated areas, with vegetable farming and fruit growing becoming more prevalent with the advent of irrigation.

• Animal Husbandry: Livestock farming is the second major income source. Much of the grazing land has been converted to agriculture, and some areas have been degraded due to overuse. Seasonal grazing occurs in wet meadows, with sheep grazing in the steppes and cattle and buffalo in marshy areas. Approximately 24,000 cattle and 38,000 sheep are raised in the area, totaling 62,000 animals.

• Reed Cutting: Reed cutting is a common activity, with about 1500 tons of reeds harvested annually. Most of the reeds are exported, with around 300,000-400,000 bundles (each bundle weighing approximately 5 kg) being shipped abroad. A reed binding and storage facility was established in Sindelhöyük in 1995. Reeds are also used locally for construction and as animal feed. Reeds from the Phragmites australis and Typha species are mainly harvested between November and December.

• Hunting: Hunting has been completely prohibited in the area since the 1982-1983 season.

Conservation and Management of Sultan Sazlığı National Park: Protection efforts began in 1971 when the area was designated as a Waterfowl Protection and Breeding Area by the Ministry of Forestry. In the 1970s, the General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works (DSİ) planned to drain the area, but due to efforts from NGOs and public institutions, the project was revised, and the water level in Yay Lake was maintained at 1070.80 m to prevent the area from drying out.

Recognizing its importance as a wetland and conservation area, Sultan Sazlığı was included in the A-Class Wetlands List according to Articles 2 and 3 of the Ramsar Convention (International Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat) by the Council of Ministers on March 15, 1994.

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