1st Edition, English, February 2008: The Kaçkar - Trekking in Turkey's Black Sea Mountains
Photograph Editor: Metin Tekeroğlu
Research and editing: Theresa Day
Copyright: Kate Clow All rights reserved
Map Copyright: ifj. Zsiga György All rights reserved
Turkey is a land rich in mountains. They include the magnificent Toros chain running parallel to the Mediterranean in the south, the remote Cilo-Sat range on the Iraq/Iran borders, and the chain of Anatolian volcanic outcrops starting on the eastern frontier and finishing at the western Mediterranean. Biblical Mount Ararat, on the Iranian/Armenian frontier, rises to over 5000 m. Wonderful though these mountains are, Turkey's Kaçkar range offers the best walking and trekking in this vast, mountainous country.
Kaçkar (pronounce Katchkar) probably derives from the Armenian word for a monumental stone; the literal Turkish meaning of kaç kar is "how much snow?".
Both meanings are appropriate for a massive granite range topped with permanent snow. Situated in the far north-east of Turkey, the Kaçkar rise dramatically above the Black Se, close to the Georgian frontier. Part of a larger range known historically as the Pontic Alps, they boast exquisite alpine lakes, verdant, flower-studded meadows, glaciers, towering granite peaks with views of the Pontus/Black Sea, richly forested valleys and a wealth of unique and beautiful flora. This compact region is a trekkers' paradise. If you are still in doubt, the region's vibrant yayla/high pasture culture, easy access, good local transport, cheap food and friendly accommodation should convince you that the Kaçkar mountains are well worth a visit. The central part of the range is a national park, and protected accordingly.
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