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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 Avşar 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, İçel, Antalya
and Muğla.
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, Gümüşhane and Bayburt.
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