Area: 8.933 km² , Population: 513.681
GENERAL INFORMATION
Isparta is a province that placed at the Mediterranean Region, and famous with lakes, roses and rugs. Antic cities, national parks, and caves are places to be seen in province.
HOW TO GET
Road : Isparta Petrol Tourism has service to İstanbul, Ankara Antalya Bursa ve Gaziantep , İzmir and Edirne.
Railway : Everyday a train goes to Istanbul on 06.50 P.M , to Izmir on 10.50 P.M
Airway : The city has an airport which is called Suleyman Demirel Airport.
DON'T LEAVE WITHOUT
- Visiting Yalvaç Pisidia Antiocheia Antic Ruin place,
- Making picnic at the shores of lakes and taking photographs at Kovada National Park,
- Eating Sazan dolması (çapak) (Stuffed Crap) by the view of lake at Eğirdir county,
- Buying rose oil and rug from Isparta,
- Seeing International Rose, Rug, Culture and Tourism Festival arranged between the 1 - 3 June dates,
- Skiing at Mount Davraz, Making slope parachute at Eğirdir, canoeing at Çandır
EĞİRDİR LAKE
Eğirdir Lake is located between Beyşehir Lake to the east and Burdur and Acıgöl Lakes to the west. Its width changes between 1.5 and 16 km.The lake is divided into two parts. The smaller part on the north is called Hoyran while the other part is called Eğirdir Lake. These two parts come together in a narrow strait between Akdağ and Barla mountains. The mountains are located as if they are hugging the water in all directions. The lake looks like the letter “S” in sattelite photos. Shores are generally steep but Gelendost and Uluborlu plains and Hoyran shores are rather shallow, and end in reedbeds. Domuz mound on Senirkent side and Kocaçay reedbed on Hoyran side are important points of the ecosystem.
Eğirdir Lake is fed not only by rain and the melting snow. Many fresh water sources also feed the lake. You can even drink water from the “water source in the water” in the rocks on the shores of Aşağı Tırtar village. While you are doing this, you can hear the voice of partrigdes. On your way to Yalvaç from Karatepe, you will see the sign and direction for Aşağı Tırtar village. About 5 km after the sign turn right from the dirt road across the limekilns, after 1 km. you will arrive at the lake shore. A very beautiful excursion spot which appears just like an oasis and a shed -like restaurant where you can eat fish will welcome you. But first, turn left and walk to the lake shore about 500 m. There you will realize a big perforated rock approaching to the lake like a door and the rock tombs on the hills behind that rock. When you get back where you parked your car, who can claim that you didn’t deserve to eat fish?
One of the most attractive points of the lake whose depth changes between 6-13 m., is the bay called Atatürk in Gelendost Kemer. When you go up the hill going through the nomad village, you will come across with Akbük which reminds you of a miniature of Dalyan in Köyceğiz. The view of the lake bringing together the reedbeds and the shores is so poetic that you will not hurry up for going down to the fishermen’s shelters.
While 10 kinds of fish were found in the lake in the past, perches thrown into the lake in 1955 have plundered the lake floor. The numbers of Carps, cryfish, herons have decreased. Among these fruitful days, fish over 10 kg can still be caught in the lake.
While the day leaves the earth, the lake looks as if it was painted with a brush that was dipped in gold bath. Watching the boats sail in this golden bowl is so delightful that one can never get enough of it. We must add that the beauty of the full moon rising behind the hills is fascinating. The night which goes from purple to dark blue and from dark blue to black is completed by the light of the silver moon gleaming on the lake.
KOVADA LAKE NATIONAL PARK
Water changes everything in Isparta… Kovada Lake is added like a little green pocket to the triangle created by Burdur-Eğirdir- Beyşehir Lakes. If you wander around this lake which is located at 30 km south of Eğirdir, coots, wild ducks, and grey herons scared of your voice, will get off from their places under the trees and fly towards to opposite coast of the lake. Isparta is, to some extend, the whispers among the plane trees which surround Kovada Lake like a dark yellow necklace in autumn.
While going to Kovada Lake from Eğirdir town along the channell, apple and cherry trees, colourful poplars, reeds along the water welcome you. Sometimes you go through a mist which covers the road like a white veil. These images are the messengers of a calm lake reminding of a picture painted by an artist called “the Nature”.
Kovada Lake with the surrounding area of 6534 hectares has been one of our National Parks since 1970… It was decared as a 1 level protected area in 1992. The depth of the lake is 6-7 m while the width is 9 km. On the contrary of the other lakes in Isparta, its water is not very clear because of the sediments.
However, thanks to the trees growing among the rocks, it presents beautiful views when looked from the hills around.
The surrounding area of the Kovada Lake is 20.6 km and its height above the sea level is 900 m. There are walking courses around the lake for those who love hiking. Beginning from the small recreational facility of National Parks General Directorate, the short road is a 350 m walking course. Another road beginning at the same point and reaching out to the watch tower is 2.800m. long. Professional travelers can camp by the lake and go for longer walks.
Remember! Be careful that your shoes are proper as the lake shores are rather rocky. Permission of Environent and Forest Direcorate is required for those who wish to camp in groups. Phone: (0246) 228 53 00. Permission is not required for those who camp with a single tent. Bring a sweater even if you will camp in summer.
Kovada National Park is a rich working and recreation place for nature lovers. Many kinds of trees from redpine to juniper; from wild olive to kocayemiş (arbutus unedo) to menengiç (Terebinthina Chia), pırnal meşesi (quercus ilex) constitute the basis of the natural flora. Herbs like wild rose, daphne, blackberry, and boyacı sumağı (rhus cotnus) enrich this structure. The diversity of flora can be observed in wild life, however many animal species have been endangered due to hunting. Yet, you shouldn’t be surprised to see martens, badgers, wild boars, foxes, squirrels or rabbits.
Kovada Lake is an important point for bird watchers as well. Its waters are valuable as it is a watering hole for migratory birds. Wild geese, rudy shelducks, herons, wild ducks, woodcocks come to the lake. If you happen to see bouncing birdson the rocks, know that they are partridges. As for the inhabitants in the water, they are carps, sudak (Lucioperca lucioperca) ,pool fish, eğrez (vimba vimba), velvet fish, eels and fresh water lobsters.
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