Private Sultan Marsh Tour

General information

Destination	Category
Cappadocia, Turkey	Sightseeing Tours

Program details

This wetland, located in the middle of the Ye?ilhisar-Develi Plain and known as Sultansazl??? (Sultan Marsh), consists of a freshwater marsh covered with reeds in its southern section, the saline Lake Yay in the northern section, and the barren lands surrounding these two. Sultan Marsh is fed by streams descending from the Ala Mountains in the south as well as by springs with a high output. The Akkoy Dam has been constructed for irrigation purposes on Ye?ilhisar Stream, a stream that originates in the Ala Mountains and curves down into the plain from north of Ye?ilhisar Country without a well-defined bed. Dundarl? Stream, which comes in from the south and descends into the plain three km. west of the villages of Ovaçiftlik joining the marsh as a delta, has also been dammed up by Koval? Dam for irrigation purposes. A?açasar Dam as well has been built for the purpose of irrigation on Yahyal? Stream, which descends from the Ala Mountains, crossing the County of Yahyal? and reaching the marsh through a number of canals.

Develi Stream, which originates onMountain Koç and crosses Develi Country, flowing on into the plain, disappears near the villages of Sindelhöyük without reaching the lake. It is planned to use the Soysalli spring north of Lake Yay, which have a high output, for irrigation purposes in summer as well, and to channel the rest of the water into the lake. Studies concerning these projects were undertaken in 1960 and culminated in the implementation of the Great Develi Irrigation Project at the beginning of the 1970?s. The same project also included draining of Sultan Marsh and Lake Yay. Nevertheless, when the General Directorate of National Parks and Hunting and the Association for the Conservation of Nature in Turkey joined forces to protest the destruction of this important wetland in 1974, their protests won acceptance and appropriate modifications were made in the project, and both the marsh and the lake were spared.

There are number of islands in Lake Yay, a salt water lake is situated between the freshwater marshes on its north and south. These islands are important breeding grounds for birds.

Meeting/ Pick up point: Hotel.
Start or opening time: 9am.
End or closing time: 5pm.