The Profile of Kaz
Mountains
The Kaz Mountains are located on Turkeys Western Coast
also known as the Agean Region of Turkey having
mild winters and fairly warm summers. The average annual
temperature is 15.7
˚c
while summer temperatures rise to above 30˚c
in July and decrease to about 6˚c
in winter. The Summer period is between May to September
and the Winter from October to April, essentially two
seasons with a few mild bouts of snow during winters.
The slopes and the higher parts of the Kaz Mountains are
cooler in summers and colder in Winters. The bow shaped
range of the Kaz mountains (Ida Mountains is the
Mythological name) prevent the severe cold coming
from the north. Besides the olive trees which
cover almost the entire length of about 27 km. the 650
mt high. “Şahindere Canyon” of the Kaz mountains.
As a result, the entire region and specially the
vicinity of KALKIM village bears the reputation of
having the highest density of oxygen on earth. An
"Oxygen Tent" as narrated by many experts. According
to the World Health Organization the amount
(rate) of oxygen in the air of Kaz Mountains is
around 20.9 to 21 % against the very low,
almost nil carbon monoxide and sulphurdioxide. That
is why the Kaz Mountains have an exceptionally high
reputation from the point of health tourism. The
Kaz mountains are pointed out as
"The
mother of wild nature with a thousand fountains"
by the father of all
historians, Homeros also known as a
paradise of springs by others. Besides its numerous
springs this region is also gifted with rich
thermal sources. (Hot water springs)
Kaz
mountains are rich in flora and fauna and
famous for their pine, oak and chestnut
trees but this pine is unique and is also called
“abies Equitroiani” in Latin which can be
found only on these mountains in the whole world. The
Ottoman Naval fleet was constructed of this tree and
so was the “Horse of Troy” or “The Trojan
Horse”. That is why it is called “Pine of Troy”
by the local people in Turkey and Greece, both. This
particular pine is found only on the Kaz mountains.
As for
the fauna, there are wild boars, wild Cats,
Jackals, Foxes, Badgers and Rabbits. Because
of the high population of wild boars, the region
is a paradise for hunters. Hunting tourism is
organized by authorized local agencies. In addition, the
Kaz Mountains with their spectacular images have
reached international fame for tracking, canoeing,
jeep safari and off road photography.
In
mythology, Ida Mountains (Kaz Mountains) are
acknowledged as the place of Greek Gods where a
beauty contest among three Greek Goddesses (
Hiere, Artemis, Afrodit) was held and where shepherd
called Paris (the judge of that contest) was
raised. Paris had also been the cause of the Trojan
wars that were watched by the chief God Zeus
from the top of Ida Mountains. Besides their importance
in Greek mythology, the Kaz Mountains cover a
considerable space in the Greek and Turkish legends.
The legend of "Sarıkız and Hasan" is the most
popular one. Every year, between 15th and
25th of August, the local people,
mainly the local Turkomen and Greek visitors get
together in their colourful, traditional costumes to
perform a ritual ceremony for Sarıkız (the blonde
girl) and her father. If tours can be organized to that
spot during that certain date, they are bound to be very
interesting and impressive.
These
are some of the facts about the world Famous Kaz
Mountains that reminds one of absolute Nature, Flora,
Fauna, Springs, Lakes and much more. It is something
much beyond the words, perhaps, even beyond imagination. |
