50th Year Park

Situated at Cebeci neighbourhood and known as Ankara’s observation terrace, 50th Year Park has an area of 135.000 square metres. The park was opened in 1970 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Republic and was renovated by Ankara Metropolitan Municipality in 2009. There are ponds, playgrounds, gazebos, non-barbecue picnic areas, an ice-skating ring, cafes, arbours, and a big carpark. Turkey’s tallest flagpole with a height of 120 metres is also here.

Peçenek Dam

The Peçenek Dam was built on the Peçenek Stream for supplying drinking water. The 32-meter-high dam irrigates 1,410 hectares of agricultural land. The surrounding area of the dam, with the village of Fadillı nearby, is suitable for hiking and photosafari.

Eğerlidere Valley

Cezirdede Hill has an altitude of 2,015 meters and is a member of the Köroğlu Mountains. Eğerlidere is fed by the slopes of Cezirded Hill, passes through a narrow and steep valley and reaches Hamam Stream in Semeler village near Çerkeş-Kızılcahamam highway. There are natural caves on the slopes of these valleys, which are about 15 km long. These rock caves had been used for accommodation and protection since ancient times. The valley is worth seeing for its geological and archaeological richness. The settlements in the valley are Eğerlidereköy, Eğerlikozören, Akçabayır, Alıç, Değirmenciler, Duraşar, and Eğerlibaşköy. Following the road after Başköy Pond, Semerözü is reached. On the slope of Kale Tepe and around Eğerlibağ, there is a rock settlement built for shelter in its natural appearance on a slope overlooking Eğerlidere Valley. The four-storey caves were connected internally and organised through corridors and rooms. There are rectangular openings connecting the floors and rectangular niches on the walls.

Çanıllıdere Valley

Çanıllı Stream, located in the west of Kızılcahamam district centre, is formed by the merging of the streams fed from the slopes of Avar Mountain and merges with the Koca Stream near the district centre. The valley, which descends from the plateau slopes with a little inclination, becomes narrower in Çanlı locality and creates steep slopes. Numerous wild pear, hawthorn and rosehip trees populate the slopes. In the geographically rich valley and the streambed are the settlements of Yukarıbayır, Aşağıbayır, Aşağıçanlı and Koçaklar.

Dikmen Valley

It is a park area that was formed by reorganizing and rehabilitating the stream located between Dikmen and Hoşdere Streets in Dikmen neighbourhood of Çankaya. Suitable for walking and photosafari, the area attracts visitors who want to relax and rest.

Akyar Dam

Akyar Dam which is about 15 km away from Kızılcahamam district centre was officially opened in 2001.The water in the dam is transferred to Eğrekkaya Dam near the Oğlakçı Village via a channel. Carp, mullet, perch, barbel, pike and silverfish live in the dam that is available for angling.

Soğuksu Natıonal Park

Established in Kızılcahamam in 1959, Soğuksu National Park covers an area of 1,050 hectares with an altitude of approximately 1,300 meters. It is the second facility officially declared national park in Turkey. Located in a transitional zone to the lush forested region of Northern Anatolia, the area has a geomorphological (fossil forests, rock formations) structure consisting of many streams and plains among the valleys opening to two main valleys. In the national park wild boar, bear, wolf, fox,deer, marten and rüppell’s griffon are common wild animals living in a forest of larch, scothch pine, oak and poplar trees in their natural form. The forest is further enriched with sub-species of plants. Standing out with its picnic area, camping and caravan park opportunities that can accommodate 8,000 visitors, the park creates a special area in terms of ecological and biological diversity because it creates a transition between the steppe and the forest for vegetation. It is suitable for hiking and photosafari.

Keçiören Waterfall

Turkey’s largest artificial waterfall is in Kalaba Valley. The waterfall, one of the symbols of Keçiören, flows from the rocky hill where a rock tomb was built in ancient times. Approximately 400 tons of water is pumped for the 27-meter high and 180-meter- wide waterfall. The surroundings of the waterfall is landscaped as a parking area.

Botanical Park

It’s a park located in a valley surrounded by Cinnah and Çankaya Streets and its two sides are adorned with flowers. There is a pond and a greenhouse of flowers in the park covers an area of 65 thousand square meters. Ankara’s first tall tower with an observation terrace, Atakule, and Seğmenler Park are nearby. The park offers unique view for photosafari.

Göksu Park

The park, built around the old Susuz Lake, covers an area of more than 500 thousand square meters. Pedalos and boats can be rented. In addition to a lake area of 141 thousand square meters, there are tea gardens, cafes and restaurants around 9 piers. Mountain sled, go-cart and the train circling around the lake, picnic areas and barbecues and a hiking trail of 1.5 kilometres are other recreational opportunities. The lighthouse, which provides a birds-eye view, is an ideal spot for photo-safari lovers.

Gölbaşı Love Flower

Gölbaşı love flower or scientifically Centaurea tchihatcheffii is an endemic species of Turkey belonging to Asteraceae family’s genus of Centaurea. Gölbaşı love flower, which grows only in Gölbaşı district of Ankara and is endangered according to the criteria of the World Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), is named after Centaur, a mythological creature proposed by Hippocrates. The annual herbaceous plant, has purple, red and pink colours. It is included in the “Definitely Protected Plant Species” list according to the IUCN and Bern Convention (Convention on the Conservation of Europe’s Wildlife and Habitat). Also known as Red Cornflower, Iridescent and Bridal Button, the plant blooms in red, purple, and pink. The flowering period of the plant starts the last week of April and continues until the first week of July. It spends the remaining 9 months in the seed stage. The root of the flower is 4 to 21 centimetres long and has a taproot structure. The plant has thin long side branches, and the body of the plant is between 4 and 50 centimetres tall. According to the legend, Gölbaşı love flower feels sorry for two lovers madly in love but unable to get together. The plant tells us the story of the lovers through its various colours. With its iridescent flower, the corrugation of its leaves, and its ability to reflect light, it has some unique features not seen in other Centaurea species. While it has bright red flowers when it is young, its flowers fade and turn light pink during maturity. The plant mostly grows on the east bank of Lake Mogan. Thoughtless plucking, exposure to pesticides, afforestation and construction activities are the factors that threaten this species. Protected by the Gölbaşı Municipality, the plant is grown in special protection areas in Gölbaşı district. In addition, this flower species is protected within the scope of the Gölbaşı SEPA, the Love Flower Conservation and Monitoring Project under the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization.

Uğur Mumcu Park

At the garden, set up on a 90 thousand square metres area, an ecological approach has been taken in selection of materials used in the entertainment and recreational areas and energy production. There is a festival site, grass amphitheatre and concert hall on the garden. Bicycle and running tracks, rest and sitting areas, sports areas have been built on the site. Its playground which has been constructed entirely out of wood and its observatory situated at the garden’s highest point makes the site stand out.