Akyatan Lagoon

Akyatan Lagoon
LocationÇukurova, Turkey
Nearest cityAdana
Coordinates36°37′00″N 35°16′00″E / 36.61667°N 35.26667°E / 36.61667; 35.26667
Area147 km2 (57 sq mi)
Established1987
Designated15 April 1998
Reference no.943
  • MPA Global category: Marine MPA, Intertidal MAP

Akyatan Lagoon is a 14700-hectare wetland ecosystem that is designated as Wetland of International Importance by Ramsar Convention. A major stopover for migrating birds, Akyatan is recognized as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International. It is the single largest green turtle rookery at the Mediterranean, holding 43% of the Mediterranean nesting population.

The lagoon is located at the northeastern edge of Mediterranean Sea, 30 km south of the city of Adana, in Cilicia region of Turkey. The entrance to the lagoon is either from Tuzla or through Küçük Karataş Village.