Tuz Gölü Underground Gas Storage Project consists of surface facilities, wells, fresh water and brine pipelines etc. Surface facilities and storage caverns are located approximately 40 km south of Tuz Gölü (Salt Lake). Fresh water pipeline is used to bring fresh water from Hirfanlı Dam, which is used for leaching the salt formation underground. After leaching, the brine is discharged to Tuz Gölü by brine pipeline. The discharge of brine into Tuz Gölü helps to increase the water amount of the lake, which has been decreased day by day due climate conditions including insufficient precipitation and high evaporation rates, excess consumption of groundwater by unlicensed water wells etc.
Flamingos migrate according to the seasons to find food and nest. They choose salty areas and wetlands. Tuz Gölü is an important place for flamingos to find food and reproduce. The number of flamingos living and incubating at Tuz Gölü changes according to the condition of the lake water. Their number decreases during years when the water level is low at the lake. Increase in the water level of Tuz Gölü results in better conditions for both feeding and incubating. Increase in the water level also increase the possiblility of more small islands to be formed, which provide safer conditions for their eggs against reptile attacks.
Ministry of Environment and Urbanization announced the outcomes of the “Surveying, Protecting and Monitoring of Flamingo Populations Project” last year. In this announcement, it is stated that, within the Tuz Gölü Special Protection Region, 9564, 11079 and 12746 flamingo chicks are detected in 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively. (https://tvk.csb.gov.tr/flamingolar-tuz-golu-nde-korunuyor-haber-231914).
You follow the link below for “Tuz Gölü with Photos” album which presents the unique beauties of Tuz Gölü habitat as a visual feast:
It is known that Caretta Caretta turtles come for ovulation to seaside of BOTAŞ Regional Directorate of Petroleum Operations. These animals are shown the necessary sensitivity during ovulation and hatching periods of offspring and required assistance is provided to the academicians and nature conservation institutions that monitor caretta carettas.
