Akgöl and Paradeniz Lagoons are 1312 ha in size. Akgöl (820 ha) has slightly salty and briny water characteristic. The depth of the lake is 0,5 – 1,0 meter and is linked to Paradeniz. With a maximum depth of 1.5 meters, Paradeniz Lagoon (492 ha) is slightly salty and constantly linked to the sea via a canal.
Paradeniz Lagoon is situated in Silifke town of Mersin city on the coast of the northern east Mediterranean Sea where close by Mersin Bay. It is a oligohaline lagoon connected with the sea and located west of the Göksu River.
Akgöl is located further west point of the same river. Paradeniz is surrounded by sparse reed beds and covered with species of the halophilic Salicornia sp. Surrounding the Akgöl lagoon there is an agriculture field with hazelnut, maize, wheat, sugar beet and tobacco growing around the lake. In addition to them, there are many fruit and industrial trees.

The salinity level decreases up north where freshwater flows into the system. The salinity of Akgöl is low and is covered with dense reed beds. The sandy strip between Akgöl and the sea is covered with dwarf shrubs of the species Genistra. Both of these wetland systems were formed as a result of bed displacements of the Göksu River and sea movements.

In recent decades, the hydrology of the delta has been transformed by agricultural development. Akgöl was used to be a semi-permanent, hyper-saline lake with no connection to the sea. Drainage water from fields to the north of the basin runs into Akgöl, which is connected with Paradeniz lagoon, the latter being connected to the sea. As a result, Akgöl is now a permanent, densely vegetated, with its water levels peaking in summer. Paradeniz, on the other hand, is an open, polyhaline lagoon with very little vegetation.