Select Language

English

Down Icon

Select Country

Turkey

Down Icon

Women Highland Workers of the Kaçkar Mountains

Women Highland Workers of the Kaçkar Mountains

Turkey's gateway to nature, the Nature Activities & Adventure Sports Page , is Turkey's most up-to-date and comprehensive information source for anyone interested in nature sports. 🏕️⛰️ It's a comprehensive platform offering nature enthusiasts across Turkey the most up-to-date events and guides, from camping sites and hiking routes to mountaineering and extreme sports.

“Türkiye’s gateway to nature”

The page, which keeps its finger on the pulse of the outdoor world with its powerful communication network that brings together nature lovers, also offers an indispensable resource for those exploring Türkiye with its province-specific travel guides. The platform aims to raise environmental awareness and prioritizes sustainability and respect for biodiversity while engaging in outdoor activities. 🌿

Life on the Elevit Plateau is truly different. This paradise, nestled in the foothills of the Kaçkar Mountains National Park, is known not only for its natural beauty but also for its strong and hardworking women. The women of this plateau have been engaged in animal husbandry for half a century, contributing greatly to the family economy. 🏞️🐄

Located 1,800 meters above sea level, the Elevit Plateau is a true natural wonder, boasting lush greenery, endemic flora, and rich fauna. This plateau, which attracts both local and international tourists, is also known for its women's natural products. Products like butter, cheese, eggs, and honey come to our tables from the plateau's fertile soil. 🍯🧀

Zeliha Şenlikoğlu, 64, has been practicing highland farming since she was 8. Şenlikoğlu, who married at 19 and continues this tradition with her husband, spends most of her day with her animals. She makes a living selling products like butter and cheese. "Livestock farming is very good these days," she says. "We can't even grow enough crops; sometimes there's not even enough left for tourists."

Another person involved in highland farming is 84-year-old Hanife Aydın. Despite her advancing age, Aydın continues her work on the highlands and has never lost her love for her animals. 💪❤️

Fevziye Hemşen, 69, has spent most of her life in Elevit. Having married on the plateau, Hemşen is very happy to live here. "When I come to Elevit, I feel like I've found health. I even forget my pain," she says. In addition to raising livestock, Hemşen makes a living by knitting handmade socks and selling her chickens' eggs.

Unfortunately, young people aren't showing much interest in transhumance. Fevziye Hemşen states that she still maintains her strength thanks to the natural foods she consumed in her youth. However, young people's lack of interest in this natural lifestyle is concerning for the future of transhumance. 😔

Elevit Village Headman Naci Aydın notes that the number of people wanting to return to natural habitats has increased in recent years. However, land that has been unused for many years has fallen into disrepair. “Many people want to return, but their gardens have disappeared, their roofs have collapsed. Land has become multi-shared,” Aydın says. The end of transhumance has led many to emigrate. But now, bread is here, money is here too. It's right at their doorstep. 🏡🌾

At the foothills of the Kaçkar Mountains, life flows with the rhythm of nature on the Elevit Plateau. The women of this plateau have been sustaining both their own lives and this beautiful landscape through animal husbandry, which has been ongoing for half a century. 🌍❤️

Click here for details and more.

To get detailed information about camping and caravanning and to see all our articles, you can visit our TurkeyOutdoor Camping Guide page.

Safety Precautions in Nature Sports and Outdoor Activities

  • In all outdoor activities and nature sports, safety is your primary responsibility. No article or video can replace sound practical training and personal experience.
  • Especially in extreme outdoor sports, you are primarily responsible for your own personal safety. Always prioritize your personal safety and the harmony and safety of your team.
  • In all cases, be on the side of nature , keep the environment clean, and never harm wild animals or the nature where wildlife thrives.
  • While exploring natural and historical wonders, you should pay attention to a few important points to ensure a pleasant and safe holiday. Before your trip, thoroughly research the region you'll be visiting , check the weather forecast , and pack appropriate clothing. Never damage natural, historical, or tourist sites. Don't leave trash behind; return it to your destination in the same bags you brought it in, or dispose of it in a trash container.
  • If you are planning a nature trip, camping or outdoor activities, be sure to pack all the necessary equipment .
  • Entry restrictions to forests and some protected areas in Turkey are frequently enforced , and administrative fines are imposed on those who do not comply. You should verify current forest entry restrictions with the provincial Regional Forestry Directorates.
  • Technically, all outdoor activities in nature require prior permission. Our advice to our readers, campers, hikers, and all outdoor sports participants is to at least contact law enforcement before embarking on any activity and inform them of the nature activity and routes they plan to undertake.
  • Your opinions, thoughts, suggestions, and requests regarding the outdoors and nature are valuable to us. Feel free to write to us.

We wish you a pleasant and safe nature/outdoor adventure! 🚴‍♀️⛺🌳🌲🚵‍♂️🏞️🌿🌄

📌 Instagram: @turkey_outdoor_org

📌 Facebook: TurkeyOutdoor

turkeyoutdoor

turkeyoutdoor

Similar News

All News
Animated ArrowAnimated ArrowAnimated Arrow