Site: Lake Prespa

Designation date: 03-05-1995

Coordinates: 40°56'N 021°01'E

Elevation: 844 m - 856 m

Area: 18,920 ha

Location: Lake Prespa (710 sq km) is shared with Albania (128 sq km) and Greece (124 sq km). The lake is situated in the southwestern part of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and covers 458 sq km.

Criteria: 1 ,3 ,6

Importance: Many bird species of the area are rare or endangered. Most notable are the three species that occur on the European Red List of endangered species: Pelecanus crispus, Phalacrocorax pygmeus and Haliaeetus albicilla. The species Pelecanus crispus, P. onocrotalus and Haliaeetus albicilla are also on the list of the most strictly protected species of the Bonn Convention (App.I). A total of 61 species that occur on Lake Prespa is included in the list of protected birds of the Bern Convention (App.II). Prespa Lake also supports an endemic plant community, which grows by the lake's banks at a depth up to 50 cm. Characteristic species are Valisneria spiralis, Najas minor and Myriophyllum spicatum. During the winter period there are 10,000-15,000 wetland birds: primarily Aythya fuligula (about 5,000), A. ferina (about 2,000), Fulica atra (about 4,000) and Podiceps nigricollis (about 1,000).

Wetland Types: 2 ,Xf ,Ts ,Tp ,O (dominant types shown in bold)

The lake is fringed with swamps and a wide belt of reeds. Near the village of Ezerani there is an interesting flooded forest, Korija, with willow and alder trees. North of the village of Asamati there are several fishponds (160 ha) representing an important trophic source.

Biological/Ecological notes: No further information available.

Hydrological/Physical notes: Pliocene (2-3 million years old) Prespa Lake is the second biggest lake of the Dessaret group of the Aegean Lake Zone. It is situated in the deepest part of the Prespa basin. It flows into the Ochrid Lake (a World Heritage Site), which is 158 m lower, through limestone caves in the mountains. The eastern part of the lake is barren and strewn with sand beaches, while on the western side there are cliffs. In the southern part lies the island Golem Grad, with steep banks and cliffs. Between the villages of Sirhan and Asamati there is a wider zone of very shallow banks. Frequent sandbanks extend parallel to the lakeshore.

Human Uses: The site itself is owned by the state; the surrounding area is partly state owned, partly private property. The lake is used for fishery (commercial and illegal). In the surrounding area there are meadows, pastures, commercially used reedlands and forests. Nature based tourism is increasing. The research station and the hotel complex in the northern part have been used since 1990 for the housing of refugees.

Conservation Measures: In 1996 the northern part of the lake (2,080 ha) was declared a strictly protected ornithological reserve, Ezerani. There is a management plan for the whole area, but only that of the Ezerani part is likely to be implemented in the near future. Currently (1998) there are no funds for research and restoration of the field stations, or for facilities or tourist information booklets. In February 2002, the Prespa Lakes were declared the first transboundary protected area in the Balkans by the prime ministers of Albania, Greece and the FYR of Macedonia. In June 2004 a Strategic Action Plan (SAP) for the entire (transboundary) hydrological basin was endorsed by the Prespa Park Coordination Committee (PPCC) and a GEF project development initiative was launched.

Adverse Factors: No major threats are known.

Site Management: For the ornithological reserve Ezerani: Bird Study and Protection Society of Macedonia. For the rest of the lake: "Prespansko Ezero" (mainly fishery organisations). No further contact details provided.

External Link:

Based on the 1998 Ramsar Information Sheet. This site entry was revised on June 4 2004, following the receipt of new official information.