MOUNT IDA
With its different colors presented by various trees and plant species in addition to its canyon, streams and rivers, Kaz Dağları or Mount Ida as it is mentioned in Greek mythology, welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors in autumn.
Located between the borders of the Turkish provinces of Balıkesir and Çanakkale and called “Ida of a Thousand Springs” in mythology, Kazdağları is one of the spectacular places in the country. Located on an area of 21,300 hectares, it offers a rich flora and fauna with a variety of colours.
With an altitude of 1774 metres, Mount Ida is indeed a mountain range with various peaks and plateaus.
The area is characterised by amazing beauty with a large amount of oxygen, waterfalls, canyons, streams and rivers in addition to colourful trees and plants in autumn. During this season, Kazdağları are filled with local and foreign visitors. Lovers of hiking, photography, nature and those seeking fresh air due to health problems flock to the area.
Mythology
Mount Ida, where you can feel the aesthetic beauty of nature in the company of myths, hosted the first beauty contest in the world in the presence of Aphrodite, Hera and Athena. Of the 800 plant taxa detected in the area so far, there are 78 endemic plants, 31 of which are unique.
Mount Ida, the place where Paris, the son of the king of Troy, chose Aphrodite as the most beautiful goddess during the first beauty contest in mythological history, which led to the Trojan War. Mount Ida represents the mount on which the gods contemplate the Trojan War.
Iconic place
The village of Adatepe and the altar of Zeus are the main attractions of Kazdağları, as are three ancient towns in the vicinity; these are Assos, Adramyttian and Antandros. The Güre hot springs, in the Kazdağı National Park, are one of the most important thermal centers in Turkey. In addition, the waterfalls of Hasanboğuldu, Pınarbaşı and Sütüven in Kazdağı National Park are particularly beautiful in spring.
A place to visit without hesitation is the citadel “Şahin Kalesi” which is located right at the start of the canyon “Şahin Dere”. You can go for walks in this region with its unique landscapes.
The area called “Kaz Avlusu” which is located between “Karataş Tepesi” and “Türkmen Yaylası” in a stretch of 1 kilometer in diameter gives the impression of the remains of a collapsed wall. This expanse, being also the object of legends, is the product of glaciers billions of years ago.
In the area where there are many groundwater springs, the forest air merges with the sea air in the so-called “Altınoluk Şahinderesi” area, which is full of iodine and oxygen. Thanks to this property, Mount Ida is nowadays one of the three regions in the world with oxygen fertility.
Culinary specialities
Local specialities on Mount Ida include courgette flower soup, cranberry juice and sour grape syrup, as well as vegetable dishes such as mallow, sorrel and roasted asparagus!
At the Adatepe (Adatepe is a small Aegean village at the foot of Kazdağları (Mount Ida)) Olive Oil Museum you can learn all about the olive oil production process that has flourished in the area for almost a century, where you can taste fresh olive oil. You must also try the Aegean herbs cooked and/or served with locally produced extra virgin olive oil.