The Black Sea Region It means the cultivation of tea, tobacco and sweet corn, and the bays, fishing villages and beaches along the narrow coastal strip lying parallel to the mountains which in general rise precipitously from the sea. The foothills of these go up to the boundary of Europe at the border with Georgia and valleys lie rich with the vegetation growing in the fertile soil while the upper areas are covered with thick pine forests.
The quiet sunny beaches of the coastal region of the Black Sea are very suitable for swimming and relaxation. Traditional local architecture can be seen in the wooden houses of the fishing and mountain villages. This enchanting land offers naturelovers unrivalled opportunites for a variety of pastimes such as mountaineering, canoeing or safaris by jeep or bicycle.
Akçakoça is an ideal starting point for a visit to the Black Sea coast with its swelling breakers. It is a pleasant seaside town with its ancient plane-trees, sandy beach and rolling sea. In the hinterland beyond the industrial towns of Ereğli, Zonguldak, and Karabük, comes Safranbolu which contains beautiful examples of Ottoman-Turkish architecture.
Designated an international cultural centre by Unesco, Safranbolu contains unique and striking examples of traditional Turkish domestic architecture. Devrek famous for its carved walking-sticks reveals another side of the riches of the
Along the coast some of the wonderful holiday resorts are İnkum, Amasra and Çakraz. The ancient Sasamos, now known as Amasra, the history of which dates back to its foundation by the Milesians in the 6th century B.C. is one of the most beautful of Black Sea Towns. Swimming opportunites are to be found at the famous beaches to the east. At Kayalık Point an ancient church, today the Fatih mosque, can be found within the walls of the Byzantine fortress.
The underground cemetery belongs to the Roman period. Wonderful beaches lie to the east on the way to Cakraz, a typical fishing-village with good restaurants and possibilities for an overnight stay. On the winding road between Çakraz and Inebolu which passes among steep mountains one is confronted with panoramic views. After Çakraz comes Kurucaşile which is well-known for the making of wooden fishing-boats. 28 kilometres further on Cide and its beach offer pleasant opportunities for relaxation. After passing Cide and İnebolu one reaches Sinop, in the forests of which one may ask onself, "Are there still Amazons here" According to mythology this was the region in which the women warriors known as Amazons lived. The name of Sinop, in fact, comes from that of the Amazon queen, Sinope. This town, where the philosopher Diogenes was born, is one of the best places for a holiday on the Black Sea as its bays are sheltered from the wind. Situated on a peninsula 40 kilometres to the east Gerze is surrounded by parks and beaches. Samsun in the middle of the Black sea coast is an important holiday region on account of its airport. Samsun, which has served as a main port for many years, is a modern industrial city.
Home to the annual Samsun Trade and Industry Fair it plays an important role in the export of products from the region.
Ordu in the Eastern Black Sea region is easily reached from Samsun or Trabzon airport. The area around Ordu is Turkey's main centre for hazel nuts and every September hosts the Golden Hazelnut Festival. The name of Giresun first occurs in Hittite sources. The ancient Greek historian, Xenephon, wrote" Kerasos is within 13 days' walking-distance foor of Sinop" The city is backed by richly- forested mountains rising to 2000 feet above sea level Among the places to be seen in Giresun is the castle. Giresun Castle is situated on a hilltop overlooking the peninsula to the north of the town.
Another ancient ruin in the area known as Eski lonca is the Virgin Mary Rock Burial Chamber left from the time when Christianity was beginning to spread into this area. A secret passage from this leads to the Kufa Well and a three- storeyed temple there is said to have been used as a place of healing. Situated in the Haci Hüseyin locality the unusual architecture of the Gogora Church, a former Greek Orthodox church from the XVIII century, is worth a look Trabzon, founded by colonists from Miletus in the 7th century B.C. is the chief city in the region.
After the fall of the Byzantine Empire it became the centre of the subsequent Comnene Empire and remained under Byzantine rule until its conquest by the Ottomans in 1461. The Ayasofya Museum which was used for hundreds of years as a mosque was originally a Byzantine church dating from the 13th century, It has now been restored and is one of the most precious treasures of Trabzon. The inner walls of the former church are covered with frescoes, some of the most beautiful examples of Byzantine art. The road into the hinterland of Trabzon passes through wonderful scenic views before reaching the longest pass in Turkey, the Zigana Pass, in the vicinity of which is the picturesque village of Hamsiköy. Its cuisine is nationally famous. Within easy distance of here is the Zigana Ski Centre. To the southeast of Trabzon is the mountain lake of Uzungöl surrounded by mountain pastures.
This is a wonderful place for walking, fishing and camping and has the best trout restaurants Rize in the eastern Black Sea region is built on the skirts of a mountain covered with tea-bushes which look like puffy green pillows. It is accessible by air via the airport at Trabzon. In this typical Black Sea city, the 16th century İslam Pasha Mosque and the remains of the Genoese castle must be seen. In summer the best tea of the Black Sea can be bought during the Tea Festival here.
Anzer village in the mountains to the south of Rize is famous throughout the world for its nutritious Anzer Honey as well as its botanical specimens, apart from being a delightful place for walking tours.
The İkizdere Canyon situated betwen Anzer and the Ikizdere plateau is an important spot for the sport of gliding. It also possible to get a bird's-eye view of the area from here. Near Rize are the small towns of Çayeli, Pazar, Ardeşen, Of and Fındıklı with dense greenery and traditional mountain houses. All enjoy a sub-tropical climate.
The pine trees along the Çamburnu shore create a fine area to relax or take photographs of the many kinds of birds which rest here on their migrations. Hopa is a charming town situated at the foot of a wooded mountain and is also the last port before the border between Turkey and Georgia. The international border divides Sarp into two. At Karagöl, 27 km from the town of Borçka to the southeast on the way to Artvin, is a mountain lake in the forests which contain marvellous flora and fauna.
There has been a striking increase in soft tourism in this area in recent years. Some of the most important places for mountain and inland tourism in the Black Sea region are Rize-Kaçkar, Artvin-Kafkasör, Giresun-Bektaş, Ordu-Akkuş-Argın, Rize-Anzer, Sinop-Ayancık, Sinop Türkeli-Kurugöl, Trabzon-Çaykara-Uzungöl, Trabzon- Akçabat- Karadağ, Trabzon - Tonya- Erikbeli, Trabzon- Maçka- Şolma, Trabzon - Araklı- Pazarcık 25 miles along the road between Artvin and Ardaniç is the Cehennem Deresi Canyon which is to be counted among the most interesting canyons in Turkey on account of its geological formation.
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The Call of Ayder
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The plateaux in the Black Sea Region, generally above the limit of the tree-line, where alpine vegetation is widespread, become more widespread at a height of 2000 or 2200 metres or above. In the summer some crowded families go up to the yaylas (plateaux) to carry on their livestock farming. In spite of there being as many as 2 thousand plateaus there are few places with organized facilities for visitors but one of these is the Ayder Plateau of Rize. Traditional life is still carried on in the yaylas spread across the skirts of the Kaçkar Mountains, which contain the 4th highest peaks in Turkey, and these are the best places to see the extraordinary natural beauty of the Black Sea region.
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Strawberry Festival...
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The strawberry festival takes place in Bartın every year which is a wite city with its wooden houses.
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Lake Abant
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Lake Abant is a crater lake surrounded by pine and fir trees situated 35 km southwest of Bolu. It is famous for rare white and yellow waterlilies as well as its tasty trout. The lake and its surroundings are ideal for picnicking, camping, and fishing. Modern hotels around the lake cater for every need of the visitors to the area.
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Ilgaz
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Ilgaz Mountain is a masterpiece of nature, all surrounded with forests. Ilgaz both enabling winter sports in winter and tracking facilities during summer, has a rich variety of plants and shelters many kinds of wild animals. There are three ski-tracks of 750, 1000 and 1500 meters and 1000 m chair lift, 750 m baby lift. Presenting various accomodation facilities, Ilgaz Mountain is ideal for winter sports enthusiasts..
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Sümela Monastery
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An incredible building carved in the rocks, the Sümela Manastry, is to be found within the boundaries of Altındere village around a cave situated half-way up a steep mpuntain. Although it may date back to the 4th century the remains extant today are from the 13th and 14th centuries. The monastery buildings consist of the main church, two chapels with sacred springs, service units, cells for monks and students and a guest house. Also noticeable from the outside is the aqueduct whereby water was brought up to the monastery from the valley below. The walls of the rock church and its adjacent chapels are covered inside and out with frescoes of scenes from the Bible.
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Kartalkaya
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Following Uludağ, Kartalkaya is the second important ski center close to the big city centers. There are ski tracks of different slopes and difficulty levels. The chair lifts and modern accomodation facilities with 5000 pax capacity are ideal for winter sports enthusiasts.
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Adventure Seekers
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If after leaving Ardeşen one continues east towards Rize one will come to the small but charming town of Çamlıhemşin built on both sides of a rushing river. The undulating road along the Ayder river passes several thermal establishments wher one may stop and rest. For those who enjoy mountain-climbing the Kaçkar mountains are a good starting point.
Those interested in rafting should head for the Çoruh river, one of the natural wonders of the Black Sea region, Unrivalled as a waterway, the Çoruh river has its source in the Mesçit mountain and its course takes it for 335 miles within Turkey; it suuplies water to Bayburt, İspir, Çamlıkaya, Kılıçkaya, Yusufeli, Demirkent and Artvin. Proof of its potential as a centre for rafting comes from the fact that the
Çoruh River and the
Fırtına Valley are both to be found on the same part of the region. An international rafting championship is to be organized in the area. |
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