Guide
Malabadi Nature Park stands next to the historic Malabadi bridge on the old Batman-Silvan-Diyarbakır road, in Kozluk district of Batman province, 32 kilometres from the city centre. Before planning a visit, note what the Directorate General of Nature Conservation and National Parks says about it: the park was declared recently, has not yet been opened to use, has no facilities built in it, and none of its activities are available. The area record nevertheless lists opening hours of 08:00 to 23:00 and a capacity of 2,500 visitors and 750 vehicles, which the descriptive text contradicts.
The park was declared on 13 March 2019 and covers 95.95 hectares, given in the text as about 96. The directorate describes it as the first nature park in Batman, and it takes its name from the bridge beside it.
Its principal tree is the Mount Tabor oak, Quercus ithaburensis. Growing with it are terebinth, Arizona and Mediterranean cypress, oriental plane, black locust, and Eldar, stone and black pine. Jackal, fox, hare and hedgehog are the mammals recorded; swift, sparrowhawk, common buzzard, magpie, sparrow, jay and gull the birds; and Greek tortoise, frogs and snakes the reptiles and amphibians.
When the park does open, the directorate plans a prayer room, washrooms, day-use grounds, a country coffee house and restaurant, bungalows, tent camping areas, a drinking fountain, children's play areas and a kiosk, with picnic spots, viewing terraces, birdwatching, photo safari and walking and running trails as the activities. Until then the site is reached, but not used, by following the old Batman-Silvan-Diyarbakır road for about 32 kilometres out of the city.
- Designated
- 11.07.2011