Text and Photos: Ali Ihsan Gökçen
Uludag is the first love of skiers. With its skiing slopes, hotels with big fireplaces for winter and extensive pine forests stretching as far as the eye can see, Uludag is a symbol of winter.
In the Classical Era, Uludag was known as `Bithynian Olympus' and `Mount Olympus' and for centuries it has been noted for its variety of natural beauties.
RAINBOW FLOWERS
Uludag, which is the transition point of the Black Sea and Mediterranean climates is a virtual paradise on earth. There are 791 varieties of plants on Uludag, 104 of which do not grow anywhere else in Turkey, and 28 of them cannot be seen anywhere else in the world. The flowers of Uludag represent all the colours of the rainbow.
Crocuses, delicate snowdrops, lilies of the valley, poppies coyly swaying in the wind, daisies the scent of which make you dizzy, lavender that reminds you of past forgotten love affairs, anemones, the flower of hopeless loves; all these turn Uludag into a brilliant flower garden.
ICE BLUE LAKES
Rising to 2543 metres Karatepe summit, Uludag is the highest mountain in Northwestern Anatolia. The six glacier lakes, of the kind that are usually only thought to exist on very high mountains, are an astounding sight.
These ice blue lakes, set in green velvet, lichen-covered pink and white rocks and forget-me-not covered fields, are Kilimligöl, Karagöl, Aynaligöl, Buzlugöl in the Maden district.
Buzlugöl is covered with ice for most of the year.
Kilimligöl and Aynaligöl have springs so they are more suitable for camping. At an altitude of 2330 metres, Kilimligöl is named after the brilliantly coloured flowers surrounding the area, changing it into a carpet of a thousand patterns. You can see the reflection of the misty blue sunlight at every time of day at Aynaligöl.
Located at an altitude of 2270 metres high, Karagöl is a deep lake 20 minutes walk away from Kilimligöl.
The waters of these three lakes unite, branch into a gushing river and flow on to the Bursa Plain.
SIGHTSEEING TIME
The Uludag lake district can be seen in one day if you set out from the resort early in the morning.
However, the probability of spending the night should be considered because you never know when the famous mist of Uludag will descend.
The best time to see the lake district is from the second half of May to the third week of July. In this season, everywhere is carpeted with flowers. With the sweet breeze blowing, the scent of violets fills your nostrils. The sight of blue, red, yellow, and white flowers among the rocks is a feast for your eyes.
You are surrounded by crocuses. When you get tired you take a break and you see flowers on one side and shimmering lakes on the other.
You'll be amazed...
Skylife