G Turkiye

Category: Mountaineering

  • Mountaineering tourism in Turkey is highly developed

    Turkey’s magnificent mountains and forests are mostly undeveloped, existing as wonderful natural preserves for an extraordinary variety of wildlife, flora and fauna. Two of Turkey’s most famous peaks are volcanoes, both inactive, Mt. Erciyes in Kayseri in Central Anatolia (3917 m) and Mt. Agri (Mt. Ararat 5137 m) in the East. Other well-known mountain ranges are the Rize Kackar (3932 m) in the Eastern Black Sea region, Nigde Aladag (3756 m) in the Central Taurus range, and the Cilo and Sat Mountains (4136 m) near Hakkari in the Eastern Taurus.

    The mountainous nature of the country has influenced its cultural evolution. For centuries, nomads and semi-nomadic peoples have migrated annually to the fresh pastures of the higher elevations in the summer. These alpine meadows, called yayla, still represent a firm tie to traditional culture.

    For climbers and those interested in mountain geography, Turkey offers a wealth of exploration. Glaciers, volcanoes, and peculiar geological formations such as kars prove irresistible to researchers and students of geology. The challenging terrain offers great opportunities for aficionados of outdoor sports who find interesting experiences on the mountains of Eastern, Central and Southern Turkey. A list of resources to aid an expedition, at whatever level, is to be found below.

    Popular Mountains Of Turkey

    The Munzur Mountains,
    The Bolkar Mountains,
    The Bey Mountains,
    The Suphan Mountain,
    The Nemrut Mountain,
    The Mountain Erciyes,
    The Toros Mountains,
    The Kackar Mountains,
    The Cilo Sat Mountains,
    The Great Agri Mountain

    Popular Climbing Sites
    Kackar Mt. Range (The Black Sea), Antalya – Beydaglar (Mediterranean), Mt. Erciyes (Central Anatolia),
    Nigde Aladaglar (Central Anatolia), Mt. Ararat (Eastern Anatolia), Mt. Suphan (Eastern Anatolia), Bolkar Mountains (Mediterranean), Mercan (Munzur) Mountains (Easter Anatolia)

    Useful Information and Resources on Mountain Tourism and Sport

    Ministry of Tourism, Tourist Information Office
    Ismet Inonu Bulv. No 5, Ankara

    General Directorate of Youth and Sports (Mountaineering Federation) Ulus, Ankara

    General Directorate of Youth and Sports (Skiing Federation) Ulus, Ankara

  • Types of Mountains in Turkey

    Types of Mountains and Important Mountains in Turkey

    Mountains Types in Turkey

    Turkey, which becomes more arid the further south one goes, is presently hemmed in on every side by mountain ranges: The Northern Anatolian Mountain Range, the Interior Anatolian Massif Range, the Southern Anatolian Mountain Range and the Southeastern Anatolian Mountain Range. Important mountains in the Northern Anatolian Mountain Range are Istiranca (Yildiz) Mt. (1000 m), Bursa Uludag Mt. (2543 m) , Bolu Kopoglu Mt. (2400 m), Ilgaz Mt. (2587) and the Karagol Mts. (3100m). In the Central Anatolian Massif Range, there are volcanic mountains such as, Erciyes Mt. (3917m), Hasan Mt. (3263m), Greater Mt. Ararat (5137m), Tendurek Mt. (3533m), Suphan Mt. (4058m) and Nemrut Mt. (3050m). In the folded Taurus Mountain range, there are the Beydaglar Mts. (3086m) and Bolkar Mts. (3524m), and in the Southeastern Anatolian Mountain Range there are the, Hakkari Cilo (Buzul), Sat (4136m) and Nur (Amanos) Mountains.

    Mountains formed by folding or breaking Western Taurus

    – Beydaglari Central Taurus

    – Bolkar Daglari -Aladaglar Munzur Mountains Cilo

    – Sat Mountains Kackar Mountains

    – Western Group (Versembek)

    – Kavran Group

    – Eastern Group (Altiparmak)

    Volcanic Mountains

    – Mount Ararat and Lesser Ararat

    – Mount Suphan

    – Mount Tendurek

    – Mount Nemrut

    – Mount Hasan

    – Mount Erciyes

    Important mountains in Turkey (Ranked according to height)

    Name of the Mountain Height (meters)
    Mt. Ararat 5137
    Suphan 4434
    Gelyansin (Resko Tepesi, Cilo – Sat) 4134
    Kackar (Kackarlar) 3932
    Mt. Erciyes 3916
    Lesser Ararat 3896
    Handeyade (Cilo – Sat) 3794
    Greater Demirkazik (Aladaglar) 3756
    Kisara (Cilo – Sat) 3752
    Kizilkaya (Aladaglar) 3725
    Mazani (Cilo – Sat) 3725
    Emler (Aladaglar) 3723
    Vercenik (Kackarlar) 3711
    Kaldi (Aladaglar) 3688
    Mirhamza ( Cilo – Sat) 3670
    Kizilyar (Aladaglar) 3654
    Gurtepe (Aladaglar) 3630
    Sematepe (Aladaglar) 3623
    cagalin Basi (Aladaglar) 3612
    Torasan (Aladaglar) 3584
    Alaca (Lorut)(Aladaglar) 3582
    Vayvay (Aladaglar) 3563
    Bulut (Kackarlar) 3562
    Boruklu (Aladaglar) 3548
    Gevaruk (Cilo – Sat) 3540
    candir Dagi (Van Golu) 3537
    Gungormez (Kackarlar) 3536
    Sulagankaya (Aladaglar) 3530
    Soganli Dag (Kackarlar) 3527
    Medetsiz (Bolkarlar) 3524
    Direktas (Aladaglar) 3510
    Orta Dag (Aladaglar) 3500
    Karatas (Kackarlar) 3495
    Kesif (Bolkarlar) 3475
    Cebelbasi (Aladaglar) 3474
    Liblin Tepe (Kackarlar) 3472
    Karasay (Aladaglar) 3472
    Guzeller (Aladaglar) 3461
    Siyirmalik (Aladaglar) 3426
    Tearzin (Cilo – Sat) 3415
    Lesser Demirkazik (Aladaglar) 3400
    Tahtakaya (Bolkarlar) 3372
    Didvake (Kackarlar) 3350
    Buyuk Dag Tepe (Kackarlar) 3328
    Sat Basi (Cilo – Sat) 3302
    Altiparmak (Kackarlar) 3301
    Marsis (Kackarlar) 3300
    Kardal (Cilo – Sat) 3300
    Kizlar Sivrisi (Beydaglari) 3069
    Mt. Nemrut 3050
    Uludag 2543
  • The Taurus Mountains, Turkey

    The Taurus Mountains, Turkey

    The Toros (Taurus) Mountains 3756 m., are the Westernmost branches of the great mountain chain that stretches across all of Asia the Himalayan mountain belt. The Turkish section of this massive mountain range follows the Southern border of Anatolia and is itself made up of four major sections, the Western, Central, Southern and South eastern (Taurus) Toros ranges. The highest peaks rise out of the Central and Southeastern branches, a stretch of mountains, which are rugged, magnificent and arduous to climb.

    The Toros Ala Mountains
    Forming part of the Central (Taurus) Toros range, the Ala range runs from the Southwest to the Northeast for approximately 50 kilometers and boasts the region’s highest peak, Demirkazik that stretches to 3756 meters. Other high summits include Kizilkaya in the center (3725 m), a peak that reaches 3688 meters in the South, and Mt. Vayvay in the East (3565 m). This long range, situated in the provinces of Nigde, Kayseri and Adana, rises between Lake Ecemis and the Zamanti river.

    The geology of the area is responsible for the interesting rock formations and waterfalls. The erosion of limestone has created a fascinating karstic topography and hydrography, especially in the Yedigoller valley, where karstic underground rivers and caverns collect the surface water. Both the Mediterranean and Anatolian weather systems influence the climate of the Ala Mountains, bringing warm summers and cool winters to the area.

    Trips and climbs
    The best season to climb the mountains is during May, June, July and August when the alpine meadows of the higher elevations are rich in vegetation. Researchers and mountaineers ascending the Ala Mountains usually begin their climb from either Camardi or Cukurbag village. Those attempting to climb the Demirkazik summit depart from Demirkazik village. Both of these villages lie 65 km from Nigde and can be reached by asphalt road.

    Regional attractions
    The yaylas of the Toros (Taurus) Ala Mountains are the summer homes of entire villages and the summer grazing of herds of animals. Be sure to see the rounding up of all the animals for milking. Traditionally women of these encampments have produced some of Turkey’s most beautiful carpets and kilims, and it is often possible to see a carpet still in progress.

  • The Great Agri (Ararat) Mountain, Turkey

    Turkey’s highest mountain Ararat, has a legendary status due to its geologic location and the fact that it is believed to have been the final resting place of Noah’s Ark. This peak, mentioned in the Bible, has several names in different languages, the main ones being Ararat, Kuh – i Nuh and Cebel ul Haristir.

    Prof. Frederick Von Parat successfully reached its summit, which Marco Polo said no-one would ever climb, on 9 October 1829. The former president of the Mountaineering Federation, Dr. Bozkurt Ergor on 21 February 1970 made the second ascent. Thousands of visitors came in 1980, and ten years later climbing was banded but this was lifted in 1998 when the Mountaineering Federation gave permission to a group of climbers.

    Height: 5165 m.

    Location: Eastern Anatolia, near the border with Iran and Georgia, between the Aras and Murat Rivers.

    Best Time for Climbing: July to September. Winter climbing is very difficult but extremely rewarding.

    Characteristics: Mount Ararat (5165m) is the highest peak in Turkey and Europe. It is a volcanic mountain made up of basalt, which changes to andesite lava around 4000 m. At the summit there is a glacier, and on the eastern slope is the Serdarbulak ridge, with Kucuk (Little) Ararat at 3896m. The height of Mount Ararat, along with its glaciers, geological formations, people, and mountain meadows covered snow has an alluring, almost magical appearance.

    Transportation and Accommodations: The Trabzon-Erzurum-Tehran International Highway winds around the foothills of Mt. Ararat and leads to Iran. There are regular air, rail and bus connections between Ankara and Erzurum. Dogubeyazit is the closest city to the mountain, easily accessible from Mt. Ararat and Erzurum. There are a number of restaurants and lodging places in the city and the surrounding area.

    Climbing Equipments: Crampons, rope (11mm), an ice pick and safety gear such as an ice-auger and climbing tape.

    Summer Ascents: Sleeping bags made for temperatures of -5, -10 ºC, anorak, wind jacket, other camping gear and important supplies. In order to climb Mount Ararat and/or Little Ararat, permission is required and it is mandatory that climbers begin their journey from the following points.

    – Ascents of Mt. Ararat can only be attempted on the portion of the face that is within the district boundaries Dogubeyazit, and must follow the Dogubeyazit – Topcatan village – Eli Ciftligi route.

    – Ascents up Little Ararat may only be made along the northwest face. The easiest route in terms of communication and accessibility, and the most commonly followed one, is the southern route.

    – Climbers staying at Dogubeyazit can make their final preparations for climbing here and continue by car to the village of Eli. After getting water here, the first campsite, which is at 2800 m, takes 7-8 hours to reach. On the second day, after a 4-6 hour climb, one can expect to reach the next campsite at around 4200 m. It is obligatory for climbers to be equipped with crampons, rope and ice-picks. It takes about 8-10 hours to reach the peak and to return to the first campsite at 2800 m.