Where is Trabzon?

Trabzon is on the northeast coastline of Turkey, near the Georgian border. It is close to Rize city that is the tea producing capital of the country. The local population is roughly 770,000, including the urban areas. Some people from Trabzon describe themselves as Laz, which is a prominent ethnic group in this area. Throughout history, its strategic position on the Black Sea coast made it a famous trading port, especially on the old Silk Road.

What is Trabzon Famous For?

Trabzon is often called the city of sultans because it was the birthplace of the famous Ottoman sultan, Suleiman the Magnificent. Within Turkey, its football team is widely recognised, but it also has a claim to fame because of its hazelnuts. The climate and soil conditions ensure the quality is high, so every year; Turks export thousands of tonnes around the world.

Naturally, being close to the coastline, Trabzon has a thriving fishing industry, and this shines through to regional dishes of which many include hamsi (anchovies.) One cultural aspect that I adore about Trabzon is the Horon dance. Although unique to the Black Sea region and not just Trabzon, it is a marvellous display of quick and agile uniformed dancing.

Sumela Monastery

The extensive ruins of Sumela Monastery, founded by Greeks in the 4th century, cling improbably to a sheer cliff, high above evergreen forests. This is one of the Black Sea region's unquestionable highlights. Ongoing restoration means you can't go inside until at least 2023, but for many visitors, just seeing the exterior from the 'Seyir Noktası' viewpoint at the lower car park is worth the 40km drive from Trabzon.

Climbing closer takes around 30 strenuous minutes on foot by a 1.2km zigzag footpath (no views) or 10 minutes by a 3km dolmuş hop (₺5 return). The latter passes a waterfall (700m) and a monastery viewpoint (2km) en route. From the upper car park, don't miss a 100m stroll to tiny Aya Varvara chapel. Inside the chapel, a video displays some of the monastery's murals and behind is another great view surveying the monastery complex through the trees. A boardwalk path leads 350m further to a ticket booth beside a restored historic aqueduct. Paying the ₺10 entry fee here allows you to climb some steps and walk 20m to an overlook from which you can look down on an archaeological site. That includes a colourfully fresco-festooned church apse, but don't expect to get inside or to see the main complex which, from this point, is hidden around the corner. Visit early or late to avoid the crowds of Turkish tourists.

Uzungol

The 1625 hectares of the park were designated as a Uzungol Nature Park in 1989 because of the rich plant life, wildlife and sightseeing potential. The dominant tree species is Eastern spruce, and there are also badger, bearded, alder, horn-beam, hazelnut, oak, mountain elm and silver birch trees. Species of animals include mountain goat, roe deer, bear, wolf, wild boar, marten, badger, lynx, jackal, fox, rabbit, squirrel, wild ducks, birds of prey, trout and various kinds of reptiles.

The most important river in the area is the Demirkapi, and the Uzungol Lake was formed as a result of the rocks closing the mouth of the river. 10km south of the lake is the Norizca mountain, with an altitude of 300m. The best time to visit the park is between April and October.

Uzungöl (English: Long lake) is a lake situated south of the city of Trabzon in the Black Sea region of Turkey. Over the years it has become a major tourist attraction along with a nearby village of the same name. The lake is situated about 99 kilometers from Trabzon and 19 kilometers from the Çaykara district. It was formed by landslide turning the riverbed into a natural dam in the valley of Haldizen River. The area is famous for its outstanding natural beauty located in a valley between high rising mountains. The lake and village seem at first to appear inaccessible with the surrounding dense mountain forests and due to fog occasionally enveloping the lake in the evening. But, in recent years a major tourism boom has attracted a number of hotels, restaurants, and tourism shops to be built in the area. The Haldizen River created Uzungöl at the Demirkapı Plateau collecting several tributaries before emptying into the Black Sea.

Uzungöl is a reward for travelers at the end of about a two hour drive on a bumpy stretch of road past Çaykara. Entered across a arched stone bridge, the village of Uzungöl – also known as Şerah is a charming collection of old wooden houses. A road follows the breathtaking course of the Solaklı River as it flows downwards from Uzungöl through the forest. In spots the river can be crossed on wooden footbridges as it moves through a forest thick with underbush glittering from the spray of several waterfalls and an abundance of rainfall. In the village of Atakoy on the Çaykara-Bayburt road about one kilometer beyond the Uzungol turnoff are also wooden houses built with the traditional Black Sea region architecture. Trekkers can take a four hour walk from the village of Uzungöl to the glacier lakes of Mt. Haldizen located on the treeless grasslands at 2,800 meters in altitude. The peak itself is a fairly easy climb beyond the lakes and offers spectacular views of the Çoruh River Canyon at a distance to the south. The snow covered Demirkapı summit lies at 3,376 meters and a bit lower down on the right the summit of Karakaya sits at 3193 meters.

Uzungol Lake in Demirkapı tourist facilities are just in the process of starting, but you can pitch a tent or find some sort of accommodation in homes or small pansiyons. A cable car will be operational sometime in 2012 for scenic rides during the summer and for skiing in the winter. Heliski tour companies will offer their services for skiers who seek high mountain powder snow skiing in this amazing and pristine area. Many locals are concerned about adverse effects of helicopters operating in the area on the environment and recently the government proposed to build a wall around the water on the lake with cement fortification effectively destroying the shores of the lake. The reasoning behind this idea was so that water from waves on the lake would not wet the nearby roads around it. Of course, this has been met with a lot of protest from locals as well as environmentalists concerned with the environmental damage. They have said that this rediculous idea would turn the Uzungöl Lake into a giant artificial pool.

Boztepe

Boztepe is both a village and a nearby hill in Ordu Province of Turkey. The hill is 550 m (1,800 ft) above sea level. There is a restaurant at the top with views over the city of Ordu and the Black Sea. In June 2012, an aerial lift system entered in service providing an easy way of transportation between the city's coastline and the hilltop. The Ordu Boztepe Gondola can transport 900 passengers hourly up to the hilltop in 6.5 minutes.