Taken after the name of the local village and referred to as Kuş Gölü meaning Bird Lake, its other name is Lake Manyas, was set up in 1938 and was Turkey’s first bird park. Also referred to as Kuş Cennet or Bird heaven this large lake is a sanctuary for all types of birds.

There is a mixture of birds that are permanent all year round and the visitors both in summer and winter. There is a small Reception area, toilet facilities and a forested garden in which there is a large observation tower. The Reception, or visitor centre, has cameras which zoom in on the birds from several locations around the lake.

More than 270 species of birds have been recorded at the lake. The best time to visit is in the early spring but there are birds of many kinds present here throughout the year.