Kemaliye: hidden beauty
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Kemaliye is a pretty city of valleys hidden among the mountains. It draws attention with its unique and untouched geography, natural beauties like Karanlık Kanyon (Dark Canyon), unique architecture and cultural history.
FERİDUN ÇELİKMEN
KEMALİYE, Erzincan - Turkish Daily News
This pretty spot in the province of Erzincan, which once boasted carpet, textile, shoe-making and copper business until the 1940s, has been reduced to a population of 2,500 people because of emigration to big cities. During the summer, Kemaliye’s population increases to 5,000 due to tourism, especially thanks to nature sports. The area, which can be called as one of the wonders of the nature, is perfect for water sports like rafting. It is also an old settlement area where old trade roads intersect.
Land that is suitable for farming is very rare. Pastures for breeding of livestock are also few. Attempts at industrialization have all failed because of problems such as the long distance to big cities.
But many say Kemaliye is such a unique city that it needs neither agriculture nor industry for development. Kemaliye can become the most attractive city in eastern Anatolia by reaching its full potential for tourism. Famous traveler Evliya Çelebi described Kemaliye in his “Seyahatname” as follows, “Filled with fruits, a town like a big garden”.
Every kind of sport, from rafting to climbing, can be done in the town. The literacy of the people living there is above average in Turkey and the town’s architecture is incredible.
Kemaliye draws attention with its unique and untouched geography, natural beauties like the Karanlık Kanyon (Dark Canyon), unique architecture and cultural history. New restaurants, lodgings and tourism agencies have opened in Kemaliye. The existing ones have been renovated and developed. Camping areas with all necessary infrastructure, materials and equipments related to nature sports, which cannot be found in any other area region east of Ankara, are provided and people are trained. Kemaliye has the support of European Union to provide all these amenities.
Kemaliye festivals
The Kemaliye International Nature Sports Festival was awarded with the Best Project for Youth prize by United Nations Development Program in 2007. Hasan Bahri Aktan, who is the chairman of Kemaliye Charity, or KEMAV, said the population of Kemaliye increases five times during the festivals. Aktan added that pensions, which began as a service during the Nature Sports Festival, are still developing. Aktan noted, “The ancient and unique houses of Kemaliye are occasionally used for pensions. As a result, not only the dwellers of the town earn their living, but also the upkeep and repair of the houses, each of which is an excellent piece of art all by itself.” Mehmet Ayyup, Turkey’s representative to the United Nations Development Program, and Hasan Bahri Aktan, the chairman of KEMAV, have decided to sign a brother city agreement with the Shangri La district of Tibet in China to make Kemaliye’s uniqueness recognized all around the world and to cooperate with other ancient cities.
Karanlık Kanyon
The Karanlık Kanyon, or Dark Canyon, is the second-biggest canyon in the world after the Grand Canyon. Though it draws the attention of international tourists, local tourists don’t know much about it.
It is hard to describe the beauties of the Karanlık Kanyon, the home of a lot of wild animals. There, the goats and lynxes play with each other on the steep cliffs and eagles fly overhead, springs flow over rocks and reach the Fırat River.
The “garbans,” as they are called after the name given to them during the era when chained rock and high mountain passages or Silk Road caravans were there, are visited by travelers now. Kırkgöz is a wonderful place to see, where springs flow from 40 different points, and which has an amazing landscape.
How to get there?
You will pass through peerless roads when you are coming to Kemaliye over Malatya-Elazığ-Erzincan or Sivas.
Spots to visit in KemaliyeKemaliye Ethnography Museum: There are about 600 ethnographic works in the museum.
Historic mosques: Kemaliye is home to many historic mosques, the oldest of which was constructed in 1635. Ancient sites: Some relics even date back to the Roman times.Taşyolu (Stone way): A 135-year dream. Construction works began for a second time in 1949. About 4,722 meters of the 8,520-meter way is in the form of a tunnel. Karanlık Kanyon (The Dark Canyon): Sunless dire straits where the waters of the great Euphrates flow among 400-meter-high rock cliffs. Boat tours available.Koçan Cascade: the 150-meter cascade glows in the spring. Heavenly images appear. Kırkgöz: Water springs in dozens of rock caves. Caves: There are a myriad of caves in Kemaliye. Some are believed to be health giving.
The Village Apçağa: The oldest protected Anatolian style indoor-bazaar is located there.
The Village Ocak: An Alevi village established 750 years ago. There is a culture center and even a helicopter runway in the village.The Kemaliye Mansions: These semi-wooden, semi-stone houses still carry the vestiges of Turkish, Greek and Armenian styles.How to go to Kemaliye?
Kemaliye is located at a three-hour distance to Eğin, Erzincan, Elazığ, and Malatya. Daily flights are available to these cities. Once you arrive in one of these cities, you can rent a car or get on a minibus to reach Kemaliye. Also, buses that take off from Istanbul and Ankara directly go to Kemaliye.
Where to stay?
Kemaliye is home to three hotels for tourists and two hostels. Some houses serve as a guesthouse. There is a car rental company in the district. The company also provides guidance together with 4×4 vehicles.
What sports to do?
Rock climbing, ‘canyoning’, rafting, skiing in river, and rowing are available at specially designed courses. Ancient caravan routes and passageways between high mountains are available for trekking and terrain bicycling. Paragliding, delta wing and ultralight are other alternative sports.For further information please call the numbers below.
KEMAV: 0 446 751 23 43
KEDOST: 0 446 751 29 29
Kaynak: http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=109035
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