Turkey's Marmara Lake refills after drought, birds return

Marmara Lake in Manisa province, Turkey, which dried up four years ago, has begun to refill thanks to heavy rains and a water release from the Demirköprü Dam. The lake’s depth has reached about four metres, prompting the return of approximately 400 bird species that use the site as a migratory stop‑over. Local officials, including Salihli Chamber of Agriculture president Cem Yalvaç, said the restored water level is expected to revive fishing activities soon and will benefit the surrounding agricultural economy.

Authorities are also pursuing a permanent water‑supply project that would channel around 25 million cubic metres of water annually from the Bozdağ area to the lake via a network of regulators and canals, aiming to prevent future dryness and protect the ecological balance of the region.