Uzungol Lake An Popular Ecotourism Center

UZUNGOL LAKE

Uzungöl is a tourist town situated to the Çaykara district of Trabzon.Uzungol far from 99 kilometers to Trabzon and 19 kilometers to Çaykara.Can see there on photo, how a amazing nature.Can see green color every season due to climate but in winter season can see white and green because snow.The stones which falling from the mountains, closed the front of Haldizen river way so Uzungol lake occured.Uzungöl is also the name of the village on the lake's coast.(Uzungol is long lake in english).

What will see Uzungol

I will explain why I said ecotourism on title.There are more than 60 endemic plant species.There are so good  environment for wild animals life.A total of 59 mammals and 250 bird species have been identified in Uzungol Special Environmental Protection Area.There are grizzly bear,roe,jackal,wolf,fox, wild boar,lynx, badger,marten,

otter, mountain goat, wild goat so Uzungol has a natural site status so protecting with law.

Activities at Uzungol

If want to far away from stress and crowded cities, Uzungol is right address.Nature will hug you and take all stress.Feel oxygen in all of your body.So why Arabian tourists visit there much they are escaping from hot places and want to see  thousands tons of green.

There are :

• Trekking Route
• Photo Safari Routes
• Jeep Safari Routes
• Botanical Observation Route
• Highland Safari Routes
• Freshwater Fishing Routes
• Hunting Routes.

where stay in Uzungol

There are not big hotels in there just local hustels but there are 

quality service and will see Turkish people's hospitality in there.

If dont want to stay in there there are big hotels in Trabzon.

how can go Uzungol

Trabzon airport is nearest  to Uzungol so I offer flight.Than can come there by bus.But if want to see nature can prefer to bus there are bus from Istanbul to Trabzon but it take much time .

Turkish Tea or Çay

Tea is a culture in Turkey

Before I wrote about turkish   traditional drink ayran and Turkish cofee but tea has a different status in Turkey.

Tea is the most consumed drink in Turkey.There are many tea 

addicted and they drink tea as a water.Turkis people drink it with foods or after meals but I prefer to drink while eating and after dinner which best time for to drink tea.

History of Turkish Tea in Turkey

Tea, we call it çay in Turkish language.Turkish people started to drink tea end of the 19th century.In istanbul some merchants  imported tea and 

adventure started.Tea was grown for the first time in Sultan Abdülhamit II ages.According to the documents seeds came from Japan.Than farmers continued to grown tea first years of Turkish Republic.First tea factory created at Rize in 1947.Now Black Sea region is first in tea sector.Rize tea is very popular in Turkey and it s realy has good quality.

Why tea is a culture in Turkey

A folk saying in Turkey goes, ‘A conversation without tea is like a night sky without a moon.’ Tea is completing conversation and friendship.There are teahouses every locations.That areas not only for to drink tea or cofee.That areas for to spend time with friends and communicate.

Tukish people use different glass for drink tea and turkish people calling its name '' ince belli'' its mean slim waisted because glass have that figure.Especially in teahouses there are that figure of glass.There are another jargon in teahouese too.For example can call in ''tavşan kanı'' instead of tea.It show that tea's  quality.

These days can see different tools for to make tea but we use that tea kettle for it.

Technologhy changed everything but tea has good and different quality with that traditional tea kettle.So it not wrong to say Turkish tea has a diferent culture.

Turkey is the 4th. drink tea in the world and some regions have different tea drinking style in Turkey.For example in east Anatolia people do not throw sugar into glass.They take sugar into their mouth.Than drink tea with that sugar.They do not chewing that sugar.

Some people drink tea with lemon or Black pepper, cloves.

When I was ill (Flu, cold) its good to drink tea with lemon.

How to make good tea

• Firstly must have a tea kettle but Turkish style teapot.
• Fill into water kettle but not much because its for to add tea.
• After 20 minutes water will boill and take that water upper kettle and add tea 3 spoons (İt can change person).İf add water on tea,tea will burn so it would not give quality.
• Than add water under kettle for hot water.Until it boill water will soak tea.

Than tea is ready.Every people drink it different style but I prefer it 1/3 tea and 2/3 hot water and I never use milk into tea.

Sumela Monastery

Sumela Monastery

Sumela Monastery one of amazing place in district Maçka , Trabzon cty. İt look amazing whit blacksea region natural beauty.It was built on Zigana mountain about 300 meters high.Domestic people call that its name Virgin Mary Monastery and its original name in history, Sumela name come from local Greek dialect. There are some myth about monastery and according to miyth, monastery have completed in 395 A.D.

Myth of Monastery

That monastery very important for Christians According to myth, very important icon have saved in Sumela monastery.Currently Christians call that icon '' Panagia Soumela'' icon. That icon have drawed  by Saint Luka and he was one of the Bibie's author.When Saint Luke died his student took icon and went to Athenia.Christians have accepted that icon holy so they were built a temple near Thebes.

While young priest Basil praying, he has seen Virgin Mary, Virgin Mary said that, took your nephew Sotirichos and prepared to be monastic, would help yours life and went to Thebes temple.When they went to near Panagia Soumela icon they have started to pray and angels started to chant in temple. They have heard a voice from icon and said that would help and direct them whole life.Than two angel took icon and flew to Mela Mountain.Virgin Mary direct them and they found icon.Virgin Mary helped them and they started to live in Mela mountain and built monastery in there.Panagia Soumela icon was very important for Bzantium emperor's and they prepared coronations in monastery and many Chiristians visted there, Many priest have studied in monastery.

How Can Visit Sumela Monastery

Monastery is located in Altındere Valley , district Maçke , Trabzon city.I offer that visit there wiht tourism agency but if do not want this firstly must come Trabzon whit bus or plane.Than come to Maçka district, it not much far away Trabzon. there is bus for to come Monastery.When come to Monastery must be ready to climb stairs. Summer season Monastery open 9 am to 6 pm and entrance is 15 Turkish Lira.There is many comfortable hotels in Maçka and must taste traditional meals in there.

I hope you might like ,,,,