Yamanlar Dağı Tabiat Parkı

About Yamanlar Dağı Tabiat Parkı

Yamanlar Dağı Tabiat Parkı (Yamanlar Mountain Nature Park) is a protected forest area on Yamanlar Mountain, north of Karşıyaka. The İzmir Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism lists it as one of the eight nature parks in the province: a 408-decare site declared a nature park in 2011, about 18 km from Karşıyaka, which serves the recreation needs of people from Karşıyaka and Çiğli. It is managed by the İzmir branch of the Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks. The park lies within the Yamanlar Dağı Important Nature Area. Visit İzmir describes slopes covered largely in Turkish red pine forest and maquis, with low scrub on the lower ground giving way to red pine and black pine higher up. Oaks grow among the black pines, and manna ash appears in damper spots. Rocky outcrops shelter wildlife and the caves on the mountain are important roosts for several bat species, including the long-fingered bat and several horseshoe bats. According to Visit İzmir, Yamanlar is known as the northernmost point of the striped hyena range in the Aegean region. Eleonora falcons can be seen in summer, and the woods are good for watching forest birds. Visitors should check current access rules with the nature conservation directorate before travelling, as forest roads in İzmir can be subject to seasonal fire-risk restrictions.