Located in Turkey’s Edirne Province, Lake Gala National Park, sometimes known as Gala Gölü Milli Parkı, is an important and varied protected region rising as one of the main places of environmental preservation in the country. Originally opened as a national park on March 5, 2005, the 6,090 hectares (15,000 acres) park features freshwater bodies like Lake Pamuklu and Lake Küçük Gala. About 8 kilometers (5 miles) from Enez and 23 kilometers (14 miles), the lakes fall in the İpsala and Enez districts.

Established in 1991, the park has 2,369 hectares (5,850 acres) of land set aside as a wildlife reserve. Growing environmental issues drove the park’s turn into a national park. Early in the 2000s, issues including uncontrolled fishing methods and bird poaching mixed with pollution from agricultural runoff—including pesticide and fertilizer waste—threatened the integrity of the lakes and their ecosystems. Seeking better protection for the area, Trakya University in Edirne scientists argued in 2002 for the area to become a national park. The region was enlarged and formally named a national park in 2005 to ensure increased conservation efforts would benefit the lakes as well as the nearby forested area.

Covering around 3,090 hectares (7,600 acres), Lake Gala National Park today boasts a unique mix of wetlands, lakes, and forests including 3,000 hectares (7,400 acres) of adjacent forest beside wetlands and lakes. Located inside the Maritsa Delta Wetland, an environmentally valuable area recognized as a Ramsar site of A-class importance, this hotspot of biodiversity is Given that the park satisfies three key requirements for wetland preservation, this classification highlights its relevance in maintaining world biodiversity.

The great variety of bird species in Lake Gala National Park is among its most outstanding features. About 45,000 birds call the park home, which is both a major nesting area for many other species and a necessary stopover for migratory ones. The park records 163 bird species overall, including 46 inhabitants, 27 winter migrants, and 90 summer migrants. As both resident and migratory species gather, spring and fall—especially from April to May and September to October—represent the best times to see the great variety of birds in the park.

The park attracted notice in 2018 when about 10,000 flamingos arrived at the lake to overwinter—the first time these elegant birds chose this location for their migration. Flamingos are proof positive of the park’s suitability as a haven for species depending on wetlands for food, rest, and reproduction. Apart from the flamingos, several waterfowl species include ducks, geese, and trumpeter swans start their annual trip to the park. With its varied array of birds, Lake Gala National Park draws birdwatchers and nature lovers who provide a special chance to see the migrating patterns of species from Europe, Asia, and beyond.

Lake Gala National Park boasts a range of water life in addition to its bird residents. There are sixteen fish genera in the two lakes of the park, including many species of great commercial significance. Among the most amazing species are European eels, pike perches, common carp, and northern pikes. The system of the park depends on the fish, which also support nearby fisheries. The strong fish populations in the lakes are very essential gauge of the biological integrity of the park.

Many fish species find a perfect home in the watery surroundings of the lakes, which abound in varied plant and animal life. This abundance then attracts other predators such birds of prey, therefore promoting a balanced food chain. The watery habitats of the park add a great variety of animals, including invertebrates, amphibians, and reptiles, thereby improving the ecological diversity of the surroundings.

The creation of Lake Gala National Park represents a significant progress in preservation of the unique ecosystems in the region. The park not only offers a haven for species but also greatly supports the more general Maritsa Delta Wetland conservation projects. More strict environmental protection policies made possible by the conversion of the region from a nature reserve to a national park guarantee that human activities such farming, fishing, and poaching do not too disturb the fragile equilibrium of the park’s ecosystems.

Division of Turkey’s Ministry of Environment and Forest, the Directorate-General of Nature Protection and National Parks oversees park administration. This agency guarantees that the park remains a protected habitat for next generations and controls the maintenance of its biodiversity. Maintaining Lake Gala National Park’s relevance as a major wetland ecosystem depends on ongoing efforts to monitor and protect it in view of the growing hazards from human activities and climate change.