The highlands of Turkey
and the lifestyle of its people have an important place
in the rich cultural landscape of Turkey. The tradition
embodied in the lyrics of this ancient folk song, "The
people of Avsar
picked up and
headed for new lands" have still being sung today,
is what led to the settlement of hundreds of new areas
in Turkey.
In the Chinese Chronicles, Turks are described as people
that "lived by following the rains and the pastures
with their horses and high-wheeled wagons." After
they came to Anatolia and abandoned their nomadic wanderings
for more settled ways, they embarked on a new journey
continuing old traditions within the parameters of a
new lifestyle.
In this new millennium of the "global village"
where cultural differences seem to be disappearing,
the highlands of Turkey offer a refreshing authenticity
of ancient tradition which is noticed as soon as it
is experienced. Compared with our modern way of life,
it is a vivacious way of life in harmony with nature,
at once both oriental and exotic.
The highlands have much
to offer; the fresh clean air of an undefiled environment,
crystal clear streams, a refreshing coolness that is a relief
from the sweltering heat during the hottest summer days, views
of enchanting beauty, fruit and vegetables grown without hormones
and ripen on the vine slowly and naturally, milk and meat
products of animals pastured in the most natural environments.
The innumerable wild animal and plant species living in their
natural habitat rescue us from the virtual world of TV documentaries
and enable us to experience real life up close and personal.
THE
TAURUS HIGHLANDS
Exposed to the gentle Mediterranean breezes, the snow-covered
peaks of the Taurus Mountain Range intermingle with the foothills
spread out like a colorful nomadic carpet of flowers dotted
with fruit orchards, pine, fir, cedar and juniper trees.
When the crocuses blossom in the spring, the nomads (Yörükler)
set off to find pasture for their animals among the highlands
covered with the very
hues of green. When
the Mediterranean summer heat begins to make itself felt in
the lowlands and coastal areas, the flight begins to cooler
altitudes where the springwater is cold and crystal clear.
Plant Life: The Taurus Mountains
have a wide assortment of plant cover and as one ascends and
disappears from the coast areas, the diversity of the plant
cover varies. Citrus orchards, different types of shrubs,
sandalwood, a variety of oaks, sycamore tree, wild olive trees,
blackberries, terebinth trees, heath, frankincense, mastic,
redbud, strawberry and laurel trees, as well as different
types of pine and juniper trees, beech, Taurus fir and cedar
trees enhance the natural beauty of this mountain range. A
wide variety of flowers during the spring months.Snowdrops,
wild cyclamen, narcissus, hyacinth, poppies, oregano, lavender,
mint, purslane, tulips and daisies are among the more common
types of flora seen in this area.
Wildlife: The wildlife in these
mountains presents the same diversity as that of the rich
plant cover. Taurus Mountains are home for birds such as pigeons,
blackbirds, francolins, partridges, quail, turtledoves, woodcock
as well as for eagles, sturnidaes, falcons, chaffinches and
orioles. Animals that can be observed here in their natural
habitat are deer, fallow deer, bezoar goat, boar, lynx, roe
deer, fox, wolf, jackals, martens, rabbits and hyena.
The Taurus highlands are found within the provinces of Gaziantep,
Hatay (Antioch), Adana, Içel, Antalya and Mugla.
THE HIGHLANDS OF THE BLACK
SEA
With their mountain meadows adorned with colorful wildflowers,
the highlands of the Black Sea are characterized by their
spruce forests. The verdant appearance and lush green slopes
of the Black Sea coasts are due not only to the abundant rainfall
but also to the humid and foggy weather. The humidity and
the foggy weather gives way to a brilliant sunshine and oxygen-rich
fresh mountain air as one
ascends from the coastal
areas high up to the mountains. Up here in the Black Sea highlands
the mountains are covered with trees like fir, spruce, Scotch
pine, cedar, beech, oak, linden, elm, hornbeam, alder and
wild hazelnut as well as flowers like snowdrops, wild azalea,
forest rose and countless other wildflowers.
The Black Sea highlands are found in the provinces of Sinop,
Ordu, Giresun, Trabzon, Rize, Artvin, Gümüshane and Bayburt.
