Acarlar Floodplain
Acarlar Floodplain is Turkey's largest floodplain forest in one piece, located between Karasu and Kaynarca districts in the north of Sakarya. Its width is 250–1250 m, and its length is 7.5 km. It is a typical coastal set lake in terms of its formation. Between the Black Sea and the 20-25 m high dunes, it is bordered by low hills with an average height of 100 m in the south. It is located 6 km west of the Sakarya river, and its excess water is poured into the Sakarya River by the Okçu Stream. In terms of transportation, it is approximately 26 kilometers from Karasu and approximately 50 kilometers from Sakarya.
5 villages belonging to Karasu in its vicinity: Denizköy, Karamüezzinler, Üçoluk, Taşlıgeçit, Camitepe, 3 villages belonging to Kaynarca; There are Turnali, Büyükyanik and Birlik villages. With its flooded forest ecosystem, which is rare in Turkey, it was taken under protection as a 1st degree Natural Protected Area with the decision of Bursa Cultural and Natural Heritage Preservation Board in 1998. Adapazarı Soil Water Organization expanded the Okçu Stream, which is the drain of the lake, and turned it into a canal in 1971. Since then, the area of the lake has shrunk by 40% (9,443 km2).
Plant and animal species, some of which are endemic, live in the lake. It is especially the breeding and wintering area of migratory birds. Ash, alder, beech and elm species are common in the forest area. The trade of Lake onion, which is used in the treatment of polio, is carried out by the villagers of Kaynarca. Catfish, rudd, and carp live in the floodplain, while rabbits, foxes, wild boars, weasels, falcons and squirrels live in the surrounding area. Longoz is the only Wildlife Development area in Sakarya. The water violet (Hottonia palustris) is found only in Lake Acarlar as an endemic species in our country. There are also some rare species such as the lake tulip (Leucojum aestivum) in Acarlar Lake. Longoz was registered as a Wetland with the plan prepared in 2009 and its planning was done. In the Karasu part of the longoz, arrangements such as walking path, restaurant, boat, pedalo, picnic and park area are made and it is tried to be brought to eco-tourism.
