Mogan Lake offers unique beauty to bird watchers

ANKARA - Hürriyet Daily News

Lake Mogan was declared in 1990 a Specially Protected Area, where bird watchers and nature lovers are able to see sea birds up close. AA photo

Lake Mogan, which is home to more than 200 species of birds at various times of year, is one of the most popular places in the capital, Ankara, for those who want to spend an enjoyable weekend in nature. The lake offers a unique scene to visitors thanks to its natural beauty. The freshwater Lake Mogan is 25 kilometers east of Ankara within the borders of Gölbaşı district.

Those who come to the district on the highway between Ankara and Konya see a recreation area on the coast of Lake Mogan, which is surrounded by a 644,979 square meter park field. The Mogan Lake Environment Recreation Area, also called Mogan Park, was constructed by Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Directorate of Environmental Conservation and Control Department in 2001. The park is located next to the Mogan Lake coast, and bird observation houses were also built in this area.

The park includes restaurants, tea houses, camping facilities, areas for sports activities, picnic and play areas along with a bird observation house. Lake Mogan is known nationally as a natural area and an education center where bird watchers and nature lovers are able to see sea birds very closely.

The lake was declared a Specially Protected Environment Area in 1990. In winter months one can see sea birds coming from northern countries to Turkey and in summer, species like ferruginous duck and red-crested pochard incubate their eggs at the lake.

Among the other bird species reproducing at the lake are wild goose, great crested grebe, little grebe, scuacco heron and little bittern. The most important bird of prey at the lake in every season is the marsh harrier. The imperial eagle, which is under threat of extinction, visits the forest around the lake to breed and to find food. According to the Red List of Threatened Species of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which is the world’s main authority on the conservation status of species, Lake Mogan is one of the most important reproduction areas for graceful warblers in the country.