100th Anniversary (Gümüşkum) Nature Park

100th Anniversary (Gümüşkum) Nature Park (Turkish: 100. Yıl (Gümüşkum) Tabiat Parkı) is a coastal nature park in Mersin, Turkey.

100th Anniversary (Gümüşkum) Nature Park
100. Yıl (Gümüşkum) Tabiat Parkı
A sea turtle spawning place in Gümüşkum
100th Anniversary (Gümşkum) NP
Location of the nature park in Turkey
LocationMezitli, Mersin, Turkey
Coordinates36°43′15″N 34°29′43″E
Area22.98 ha (56.8 acres)
EstablishedNovember 7, 2011 (2011-11-07)
Governing bodyDirectorate-General of Nature Protection and National Parks
Ministry of Environment and Forest

The park at 36°43′15″N 34°29′43″E is in Davultepe town, which merged to Mersin urban fabric. It is located on the Mediterranean Sea coast covering an area of 22.98 hectares (56.8 acres). It is on the Mersin-Silifke highway D.400 12 km (7.5 mi) southwest of Mersin. In 1977, the grove at the Mediterranean Sea side was declared a recreation area. On November 7, 2011, the area was declared a nature park by the Ministry of Environment and Forest.[1][2][3] However the ministry decided to end its status as a nature park and there is a heated discussion on its future status [4]

It has a 1.8 km (1.1 mi) long sandy beach.[3] "Gümüşkum" means literally "Silver sand". The nature park offers outdoor recreational activities for visitors on daily basis such as hiking, swimming and picnicing. Camping and renting of cottages or bungalows are also available.[1]

The trees in the park are Turkish pine (Pinus brutia) and eucalyptus. The endemic plant sea daffodil (Pancratium maritimum) is endangered.[2] A section of the sandy beach in the nature park is used by green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) and loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) for ovulation.[2][3][5] A treatment and rehabilitation center for the sea turtles is situated inside the nature park.[1]

The status of the protected area as "nature park" was revoked on July 14, 2015.[2] It was decided to decrease its status to "recreation area of grade A". Upon protests of the residents of Mezitli and Mersin to protect and conserve the sea turtles, the Ministry cancelled its decision within about one month, and the status of the protected area remained unchanged.[6][7]

References
  1. "Tabiat Parkları – Yüzüncü Yıl" (in Turkish). Orman ve Su İşleri Bakanlığı – VII Bölge Müdürlüğü. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
  2. "Kaplumbağaları üzecek karar". Milliyet (in Turkish). 2015-08-10. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
  3. Ergene, Serap; Ergene, Mahmut; Uçar, Aşkın Hasan; Aymak, Cemil; Kaçar, Yasemin (2016). "Identification of a New Nesting Beach in Mersin, Turkey: Nesting Activity of Green and Loggerhead Sea Turtles Over 6 Nesting Seasons (2009–2014) at Davultepe Beach". Marine Turtle Newsletter. Mersin University, Sea Turtle Application and Research Center. 6–9 (149). Retrieved 2017-05-17.
  4. Inonativ Haber Online news (in Turkish)
  5. "2 km'lik kumsalı Çocuklarımıza göstermek için uyanalım." Ufuk Turu (in Turkish). 2015-08-06. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
  6. "Gümüşkum Parkı kurtuldu". Cumhuriyet (in Turkish). 2015-08-21. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
  7. "Gümüşkum Parkı Kurtuldu" (in Turkish). Arkitera. 2015-08-24. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
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