Turkey’s Karacabey wetland home to rich biodiversity

Karacabey Floodplain, Turkey's third-largest wetland, and its neighboring Kocaçay Delta in the northwestern Bursa province, are home to hundreds of flora and fauna that come alive with rich diversity in the spring and summer months.

The unique Karacabey ecosystem is formed by the accumulation of sediments deposited by creeks and streams flowing into the sea.

The water level varies based on the rise and fall of groundwater during certain periods throughout the year.

"These aquatic forests are like rain forests, but unlike rain forests they are not only dependent on rainfall and air humidity but more on ground water. With these properties, the floodplain is similar to the mangrove forests of tropical regions," Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs described the area.

Kocaçay Delta is formed by the unification of the Susurluk River and Nilüfer Stream as they empty into the Marmaray Sea, and includes a variety of habitats from sand dunes, marshes, floodplains and lakes.

Karacabey sustains a wide variety of plant life, including ash and alder trees, Loddon lily, water lilies, and flowering rush.

Dozens of animal species also call the floodplain home, from wild horses and boars to a range of waterfowl.

Waterfowl including flamingos, black storks and herons can be sighted among the wetland's abundance of water, some amid their annual migration through Turkey.

The "flooded forest" attracts ecotourists to the region for bird watching, photography, nature walks and camping.