Guide
Koçkayası Nature Park lies at the Koçkayası plateau and the Kümbet hamlet in Dereli district of Giresun province, five kilometres from Kümbet plateau, and it was declared on 5 July 2011 at 252.16 hectares. Rock, high pasture, permanent stream and forest ecosystems all meet here, which is what makes it biologically rich. The Karadere and Küçük Koçkayası streams run through it, the Koçkayası and Çımbırtlık streams along its northeastern boundary, and inside there are dry stream beds, many springs, and the local landform the directorate names only in Turkish as obuz.
Ferns are the striking part of the vegetation, present in large populations: oak fern, common polypody, black spleenwort, rustyback, hart's tongue, Cretan brake and hard fern, together with oriental spruce. Brown bear, roe deer, hare, wolf, fox, badger, weasel, stone and pine marten, stoat and jackal are the mammals. Raven, falcon, buzzard, golden eagle, harrier, eagle owl, owl and kite are the raptors, and collared dove, rock dove, wood pigeon, rock partridge and woodcock are also seen. Wild trout dominate the streams alongside a dark-bodied fish the directorate names only in Turkish.
This is one of the better-equipped nature parks in the region. There are 21 country houses in three grades — twelve small ones with 36 beds, five duplexes with 25, and four deluxe stone houses with 14 — plus a hotel the page does not describe further, a country restaurant, a car park, an administration and visitor centre, an entrance control point, a viewpoint and a tour route. Capacity is 2,500 visitors, 124 vehicles and 20 tents, with hours of 08:00 to 19:00.
Most people come in summer, for the day, and to take photographs. The park is 30 kilometres from Dereli and 65 from Giresun, reached by asphalt road, at the Koçkayası hamlet beside the road serving the hamlets at Göktepe.
- Designated
- 11.07.2011
