Summer camping in the Munzur Valley National Park in eastern Anatolia brings splendid adventures in one of the most biodiverse ecosystems and endangered locales in Turkey. Glacial waters flow down from the glacier lakes at a higher elevation, carving out the valleys, canyons, and caves. Hiking trails lead up to waterfalls and hot springs. Locals pitch nomadic tents in the mountains while visitors generally camp closer to the banks of the Munzur River. Activities include mountaineering, hiking, and river rafting mostly at higher elevations and camping and picnicking at the lower elevations and near the entrance of the park
Set up camp and hit the trails to see as much of the remarkable flora and fauna as possible. Birch trees grow along the banks of the Munzur River. Oak trees grow on the hills and slopes. Endemic plants and flowers include bellflowers, Munzur thyme, Munzur buttercups, mountain tea, and Munzur tansies. Brown bears live in the caves in the valleys, and lynx, wild boar, foxes, martens, squirrels, hares, hedgehogs, and gray wolves inhabit the forests. Watch the skies for eagles, vultures, falcons, buzzards, hawks, kestrels, kites, golden eagles, owls, partridges, cranes, doves, rock pigeons, ducks, bats, black stork, and the Caspian snowcock.
The Munzur River and the Mercan River bring a lot of physical and spiritual activities. People swim and float downstream the freezing cold, fast-moving glacial waters. Trout live in both the Munzur River and Mercan River so fishing is quite popular. The source of the Munzur River has spiritual meaning for the locals. Alevis sacrifice sheep or goats as a prayer offering and then cook with the meat for picnics. Newlyweds visit the rivers to light candles and pray for a happy marriage together. Thanks to the geographic isolation of the Munzur Mountain Range, the Kurdish Alevi ways of life connected to nature and mystical faith with shamanistic and Zoroastrian roots remain the strongest in Munzur.
Unfortunately, however, plans to build additional hydroelectric dams may one day submerge the wildlife habitats, villages, and pilgrimage sites and force the local people to evacuate. The 133 km dolmus or shuttle service bus route from the Elazig Airport to Ovacik and Tunceli goes past the hydroelectric power plants and dams on the Mercan River. When you arrive to Tunceli, visit the local grocery store for camping supplies, and take a taxi to the entrance of the park, only about 8 km away. Keep the taxi driver’s number in case you would like to arrange a day trip.
Originally written for and published on http://turkishvisafees.com/munzur-valley-national-park/
Set up camp and hit the trails to see as much of the remarkable flora and fauna as possible. Birch trees grow along the banks of the Munzur River. Oak trees grow on the hills and slopes. Endemic plants and flowers include bellflowers, Munzur thyme, Munzur buttercups, mountain tea, and Munzur tansies. Brown bears live in the caves in the valleys, and lynx, wild boar, foxes, martens, squirrels, hares, hedgehogs, and gray wolves inhabit the forests. Watch the skies for eagles, vultures, falcons, buzzards, hawks, kestrels, kites, golden eagles, owls, partridges, cranes, doves, rock pigeons, ducks, bats, black stork, and the Caspian snowcock.
The Munzur River and the Mercan River bring a lot of physical and spiritual activities. People swim and float downstream the freezing cold, fast-moving glacial waters. Trout live in both the Munzur River and Mercan River so fishing is quite popular. The source of the Munzur River has spiritual meaning for the locals. Alevis sacrifice sheep or goats as a prayer offering and then cook with the meat for picnics. Newlyweds visit the rivers to light candles and pray for a happy marriage together. Thanks to the geographic isolation of the Munzur Mountain Range, the Kurdish Alevi ways of life connected to nature and mystical faith with shamanistic and Zoroastrian roots remain the strongest in Munzur.
Unfortunately, however, plans to build additional hydroelectric dams may one day submerge the wildlife habitats, villages, and pilgrimage sites and force the local people to evacuate. The 133 km dolmus or shuttle service bus route from the Elazig Airport to Ovacik and Tunceli goes past the hydroelectric power plants and dams on the Mercan River. When you arrive to Tunceli, visit the local grocery store for camping supplies, and take a taxi to the entrance of the park, only about 8 km away. Keep the taxi driver’s number in case you would like to arrange a day trip.
Originally written for and published on http://turkishvisafees.com/munzur-valley-national-park/