Guide
Beşkayalar Nature Park lies on the skirts of the Samanlı mountains in the Başiskele district of Kocaeli, about twelve kilometres south of the Gulf of İzmit, on the northern slopes of the range. Across its 1,600 hectares are valleys and streams, high hills and rock faces, cave formations, small waterfalls and steep cliffs, with a rich cover of trees, shrubs and ground plants.
Hot and cold streams run through the park, and the place takes the name Beşkayalar — the five rocks — from five tall rock masses standing where those streams meet. The streams have cut the ground into the mountain profile the park shows.
Except for the rock faces where nothing grows and the clearings within the woodland, the whole of the park is under forest, all of it high forest. Stands of mixed beech, hornbeam and chestnut cover most of it, with maple, ash, lime and oak entering the mixture here and there in small proportions; yew, alder, willow, walnut and plane are also found.
Seven endemic species have been identified in the area, along with frogs, tortoises, lizards, snakes and bats. Caucasian squirrel, edible dormouse, hedgehog, fox, jackal, hazel dormouse, wolf, weasel, pine marten, badger, otter, brown bear, wildcat, lynx and roe deer have all been seen here.
- Designated
- 27.02.1998
Entry fee
- Marmara group 3 · category 1 · Per person
- 65 ₺