ACTIVITIES

ACTIVITIES

CAVES	WILD LIFE	HOT SPRING & SPAS
About one third of Turkey is underlain by carbonate rocks. The intense karstification is spread almost all over Turkey. It is found particularly in the regions of the Taurus Mountain Range, in Northwest Anatolia, in Konya closed basin and in Southeastern Anatolia. Karstification is present both at high altitudes (over 2000 m.) and also it is known to exist at elevations below the sea level, such as	As is well known the earth experienced four ice in the last 1.8 million years which greatly influenced the world of living things, fleeing unfavourable conditions in the north, took refuge in the Iberian peninsula, Southeast Asia, and in Anatolia which then offered very favourable survival conditions.	A visit to Turkey would not be complete without a stop at one of the country's better known spas, whether to treat a health -problem or simply to luxuriate in the soothing waters of natural mineral baths. A stop at one of the spas described here can easily be added to a tour of Turkey's most famous destinations. The health-giving properties of Turkey's natural hot springs have been renowned since antiquity.
MOUNTAINEERING	WINTER SPORTS	RAFTING
A glance at a topographical map of Turkey immediately reveals that this is a country of mountains. Rising from all four directions mountains encircle the peninsula of Anatolia. A part of the Alpine-Himalayan mountain range, Turkey has mountainous regions of different geological formations. The North Anatolian range skirts the Mediterranean	Turkey's geographical position and conditions create great potential for skiing. With an average altitude of 1000 in, the Anatolian peninsula is covered with North Anatolian Mountains (2587-3932 m) in the North and Toros Mountains (3086-4136 in) in the South.	I As interest in nature oriented tourism activities rises, sports practiced without harming nature gain importance. Rafting is one of these sports which represents a most gentlemanly competition. Mankind for centuries has been attracted by the beauty of rivers and turned them into sources of life. Today, he is in need of challenging their exuberance and pitting body and mind against this natural force. The birth of rafting doubtlessly began when man first grasped a branch floating on a river.
YACHTING	PLATEAUS	PARKS
The azure waters of the Mediterranean, the Aegean, and the Black Sea, as well as the Sea of Marmara, surround Turkey to the south, west and north. With over 8,333 kilometers of coastline along the four seas, Turkey is a treasure chest of coves, inlets, bays and beaches at which yachtsmen can choose a different and private anchorage each night.	With the first warm days of spring, in villages all over Turkey, families begin to think about moving to their summer residences on the cool summer pastures called yaylas. The yayla, or meadow, high in the mountains, provides a different pace of life during the hot months and insures sufficient grazing for the herds of sheep, goats and cattle. The migration from winter village to summer encampment is a legacy from the days when Anatolia was populated by nomadic and semi-nomadic people.	The first national park in Turkey was established in 1958. Since then their numbers have increased to twenty-one. Some of these parks, which were initially established for archeological and historical purposes are at the same time rich habitats where biological diversity is being protected. The Olympos-Bey Mountains National Park in the province of Antalya in the Mediterranean region, for example, contains a wealth of flora and fauna, which are either endemic or relic distributions, in addition to important archeological ruins. The Köprülü Canyon National Park in the same province is the home of Cupressus sempervirens forests. Natural forests of this tree no longer occur elsewhere in the world. In addition to its archeological and geological treasures, this park also contains a large number of endemic plants and rare animal species.

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