Lake Alagol, Ulmagol and Ajigol

Coordinates: 37°21'N 054°35'E
Elevation: 5 m
Area: 1,400 ha

• Location: The lakes Alagol, Ulmagol and Ajigol are situated in the Province of Golestân, on  the "Gorgân & Gonbad  steppe" near the border with   Turkmenistan. The lakes are situated about 60 km southwest from    the town of  Gorgân. Criteria: 1a, 2a, 3a, 3c The  lakes Alagol, Ulmagol and Ajigol are good representative examples of natural brackish  and  freshwater lakes characteristic of  the vast plains to the east  of the Caspian Sea. The lakes provide wintering  habitat for four  threatened species of birds:  Pelecanus crispus, Anser erythropus,  Aquila heliaca and Oxyura leucocephala.Together they regularly  support over 20,000 waterfowl in winter, and over 1% of the regional  Middle East breeding populations of Anas strepera, Aythya fuligula and Fulica atra.

• Principal Features: The site is divided into two physically separate units; Alagol Lake lies about 6km to the southwest of Ulmagol and Ajigol Lakes. Alagol is slightly saline, is fed by springs, rainfall and local runoff, and fringed by marshes with patches of Phragmites, Juncus, Carex and grasses. Inflow, and hence water level, are subject to wide seasonal variation; the lake may dry out completely in summer. Ulmagol and Ajigol are seasonally-filled, freshwater lakes, fed by autumn/winter rains and becoming desiccated in drought periods. Both have a mud and clay substrate, but have slightly differing vegetation; Ulmagol has rather sparse vegetation, while Ajigol supports extensive Phragmites reedbeds. There are several human settlements in the vicinity of the lake complex. Nesting water birds include Vanellus leucurus, while mid-January counts for the Asian Waterfowl Census between 1988 and 1992 (inclusive) recorded the following maxima: Phoenicopterus ruber roseus (110), Anas strepera (1,080), A. crecca (3,400), Aythya ferina (2,650) and A. fuligula (4,000). (1a,2c,3b)

• Wetland Types: Ss, Ts, R, P, W (dominant types listed first) The site comprises a group of three small lakes with associated marshes on the rolling grassy steppes to the east of the Caspian Sea. Lake Alagol [900 ha] is a slightly saline, seasonal lake. It lies about 6 km southwest of Lake Ulmagol and Lake Ajigol. These two lakes [together 640 ha] are freshwater lakes. They support reedbeds, and some aquatic vegetation. Both are subject to wide fluctuations in water level, and occasionally dry out completely.

• Biological/Ecological notes: Lake Alagol is oligotrophic. It supports little aquatic vegetation except for some Juncus, Carex and grasses, mainly in the northeast, and a few patches of reed Phragmites communis. Lake Ulmagol and Lake Ajigol are eutrophic lakes. They support a more varied vegetation of Juncus, duckweed Lemna, Phragmites, manna Alhagi and algae, and an abundant submerged vegetation. Much of Ajigol is overgrown with Phragmites, and this lake has some adjacent stands of Tamarix thickets, grasses and saltbush. The surrounding steppes are vast, gently undulating grassland with low sandy hills. The lakes are utilized by a wide variety of waterfowl during the migration season and in winter. They are especially important for greater flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber, greylag goose Anser anser, dabbling ducks, pochard Netta rufina, smew Mergellus albellus and coot Fulica atra. Breeding species include great crested grebe Podiceps cristata, black-winged stilt Himantopus himantopus, plover Charadrius alexandrinus, gull Larus genei and tit Remiz pendulinus. Black stork Ciconia nigra has been recorded in summer and may breed.

• Hydrological/Physical notes: Lake Alagol is slightly saline and fed by seepage, springs and local run-off. It floods in winter and sometimes dries out completely in summer. The average water depth is 2 m. When full, it overflows westwards. The lake bottom consists of mud and sand. The other two lakes are freshwater lakes, fed mainly in autumn and winter by local rainfall. Both have large seasonal fluctuations in water level. Their bottoms consist of mud and fine clay. The three lakes rarely, if ever, freeze over in winter.

• Human Uses: Activities at the three lakes include grazing, reed cutting and recreational fishing and wildfowl hunting. The water of lake Alagol is being used for irrigation by local farmers, and for a fish hatchery. Research on waterbirds has been carried out by the Ornithology Unit of the Department of the Environment. They have carried out annual mid-winter censuses since 1969, and breeding surveys on several other occasions. In the early 1990s two MSc students from Teheran University have conducted research on the avifauna and physico-chemical characteristics of the three lakes. In the surrounding area there are a few small settlements where some agriculture is practised.

• Conservation Measures: The site has no other designation than Ramsar, and is not legally protected. The site has been on the Montreux Record since June 1993 due to problems at Lake Alagol.

• Adverse Factors : The lakes Ulmagol and Ajigol are subject to high levels of disturbance from wildfowl hunters. At lake Alagol there is also some disturbance from hunting, but on a much smaller scale since lake Alagol is less accessible. The extraction of water from lake Alagol for irrigation purposes and for a fish hatchery has resulted in lowering water levels at the lake, especially in summer. Most recent Ramsar Information Sheet/datasheet: 1997; Please see Introduction for more details.

Lake Ince Borun and Marshes
Coordinate: 37°13'N 054°30'E
Area:100 ha
These freshwater lake with some emergent  marsh vegetation, c. 40  km   north of Gorgân , is surrounded by grassy steppe and arable land.
A wide variety of waterfowl such as  good  numbers of Cygnus olor and Mergellus albellus wintering here. The surrounding plains are probably an important staging area for Charadrius  asiaticus.
Merops apiaster, Corvus frugilegus, Upupidae, Coturnix coturnix, Melanocorypha calandra, Circus aeruginosus, Buteo buteo, Aquila clanga etc are some other of the birds here.

Lake Bibišervân and Lake Eymar
Coordinates: 37°09'N 054°52'E
Area: 600 ha   
Lying on the southern edge of the  "Gorgân & Gonbad steppes",  36  km west-south of Gonbade Kâvus , these two freshwater lakes support a vegetation of  Carex, Typha angustifolia and  Phragmites communnis and floating plants such as Lemna sp,Hydrocharis morusrana, Ricca natans and   Salvinia natans. The surrounding area is cultivated.
These lakes are a wintering area for a wide variety of waterfowl including good numbers of Netta rufina and Vanellus vanellus. Glareola pratincola , Chlidonias  hybridus and small number of Aquila clanga are some of the breeding birds here. The annual precipitation is between 250-350 mm. 

Lake Dânešmand
Area: 400 ha
This salt water lake lies on the northern edge of the "Gorgân & Gonbad steppes", near the border to Turkmenistan. Lake Dânešmand is a wintering area for a wide variety of waterfowl.

    
Links:
Wetlands of International    Importance (Rámsar, 1993)
Miánkale Peninsula and Gorgan Bay
Lake Alagol, Lake Ulmagol and Lake Ajigol
United Nations of Protected Areas
Gorgân Rud river