Bafa opens to ecotourists
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Doğan News Agency
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Nisan 15, 2009 00:00
ANTALYA - Lake Bafa in the borders of Aydın and Muğla provinces is on its way to becoming a tourist attraction again but with a twist. Saved from the drought, the lake’s nature park is now open for ecotourism. The park’s 24 kilometer-long eco-path highlights area’s natural and historic features, while being sustainable and environmentally friendly
Lake Bafa, inside the borders of Aydın and Muğla provinces and at the southeast of the Büyük Menderes River Basin, is open for ecotourism. The ecotourism walking trail featured Lake Bafa Nature Park's long-term development plan has been completed.
The 24 kilometer-long course starts from Serçin Village of Söke County and ends in Kapkırı Village of Milas County.
Kuşadası Foundation of Nature Lovers for Protecting the Ecosystem and National Park Engineering, or EKODOSD, performed the organizational work for the trail. The course was planned so it would be sustainable, environmentally friendly and help strengthen love for nature.
The course’s creators, EKODOSD President Bahattin Sürücü, and Erdinç Kutsal, an engineer working at the national park, said they created the path to combine the traces of old civilizations and natural life. Sürücü underlined that nature is asset in countries’ tourism and directly related to their power in that sector. He added that countries that preserve nature increase their share in tourism.
"It is known that countries that actualize sustainable tourism and environment-sensitive applications are more in favor," explained Kutsal. "Countries that preserve and increase their ecological beings and wildlife by certain rules also increase their tourism potential."
"Ecotourism, the one that does not destroy nature, is in the scope of that," he added.
Sürücü said they hoped to prove it with the course they prepared would attract tourist attention.
Sürücü said they have been following the traces of old civilizations first and foremost.
"Our path offers a view of rich plant life," he said. "The course is inside the wildlife area north of Bafa."
"It is a unique area that features history, culture, flora, fauna, mythology and incredible nature views," he went on to praise the area.
Mystifying view
Sürücü said people who have only seen the south of Lake Bafa would be mystified by the view from the north.
"Beşparmak rocks, magnificently defying the laws of physics, are rarely seen in Turkey," the engineer said. "Each kilometer of that course will introduce you to a different type of beauty."
Sürücü cotinued by explaining that both the remains of dead animals and the continuing wildlife are there to observe.
Sürücü also said that the view from the hills will interest photographers very much, and they will feel "as if they are on another planet." Last but not least, rock drawings portraying ancient wedding scenes believed to be from 7000 B.C. will also be on the course, according to Sürücü.
The current situation of Bafa is definitely an improvement considering its condition in recent year, as there has been no water entering or exiting the Lake except rainfall in recent years.
Due to the drought, the water level of Bafa Lake, located between the borders of Aydın and Muğla, has decreased below the two-meter threshold for sustainability.
A series of projects and rainfalls helped the Lake Bafa fight the drought as well.
The 24 kilometer-long course starts from Serçin Village of Söke County and ends in Kapkırı Village of Milas County.
Kuşadası Foundation of Nature Lovers for Protecting the Ecosystem and National Park Engineering, or EKODOSD, performed the organizational work for the trail. The course was planned so it would be sustainable, environmentally friendly and help strengthen love for nature.
The course’s creators, EKODOSD President Bahattin Sürücü, and Erdinç Kutsal, an engineer working at the national park, said they created the path to combine the traces of old civilizations and natural life. Sürücü underlined that nature is asset in countries’ tourism and directly related to their power in that sector. He added that countries that preserve nature increase their share in tourism.
"It is known that countries that actualize sustainable tourism and environment-sensitive applications are more in favor," explained Kutsal. "Countries that preserve and increase their ecological beings and wildlife by certain rules also increase their tourism potential."
"Ecotourism, the one that does not destroy nature, is in the scope of that," he added.
Sürücü said they hoped to prove it with the course they prepared would attract tourist attention.
Sürücü said they have been following the traces of old civilizations first and foremost.
"Our path offers a view of rich plant life," he said. "The course is inside the wildlife area north of Bafa."
"It is a unique area that features history, culture, flora, fauna, mythology and incredible nature views," he went on to praise the area.
Mystifying view
Sürücü said people who have only seen the south of Lake Bafa would be mystified by the view from the north.
"Beşparmak rocks, magnificently defying the laws of physics, are rarely seen in Turkey," the engineer said. "Each kilometer of that course will introduce you to a different type of beauty."
Sürücü cotinued by explaining that both the remains of dead animals and the continuing wildlife are there to observe.
Sürücü also said that the view from the hills will interest photographers very much, and they will feel "as if they are on another planet." Last but not least, rock drawings portraying ancient wedding scenes believed to be from 7000 B.C. will also be on the course, according to Sürücü.
The current situation of Bafa is definitely an improvement considering its condition in recent year, as there has been no water entering or exiting the Lake except rainfall in recent years.
Due to the drought, the water level of Bafa Lake, located between the borders of Aydın and Muğla, has decreased below the two-meter threshold for sustainability.
A series of projects and rainfalls helped the Lake Bafa fight the drought as well.