Güzelhisar Deltası

About Güzelhisar Deltası

Güzelhisar Deltası is the small river delta and wetland where the Güzelhisar stream (the ancient Pytikos) reaches the sea at Aliağa beach. The stream rises on Yunt Dağı, on the border of İzmir and Manisa provinces, and flows into the Aegean through the bay of Çandarlı. Together with the adjoining Aliağa Kuş Cenneti (Aliağa Bird Sanctuary) it is the reason Aliağa is known locally as a bird paradise. Aliağa Municipality describes the Güzelhisar Delta and the bird sanctuary as one of the few wetlands of its kind in Turkey, covering 27 hectares and home to 103 of the 425 bird species recorded in the country. Visit İzmir lists greater flamingo, cormorant, teal, yellow-legged gull, mallard and shoveler among the birds seen here, and notes that the area also matters for plants, mammals and micro-organisms. The delta lies on the Aliağa beaches, next to the Ağapark beach park, so it is easy to combine a beach day with some birdwatching. Bring binoculars and keep to the edges to avoid disturbing nesting and feeding birds.