Kız Tepesi Tabiat Anıtı

About Kız Tepesi Tabiat Anıtı

Kız Tepesi Tabiat Anıtı (Kız Tepesi Natural Monument) is a 542-hectare protected area in Nallıhan district, registered as a natural monument on 23 September 2019 because of its multicoloured ground. According to the nature-tourism site of the Doğa Koruma ve Milli Parklar (DKMP) directorate, the brown and red tones come from the oxidation of iron and the minerals it forms, while the grey and dark grey bands come from organic material deposited along with the sediment. The hills preserve a thick sequence of layers laid down in an ancient lake. Remains of creatures and plants from that period, found in these layers, have allowed researchers to study past climate, tectonics and environments, and the ministry describes the monument as geological heritage of importance for both tourism and science. The area adjoins Nallıhan Kuş Cenneti (Nallıhan Bird Sanctuary) and shares its habitats. Its valley floors carry salt-steppe plants, among them species endemic to the region such as Salsola grandis (koca soda) and Anabasis aphylla (öldürgen), while Muscari adilii (bey sümbülü) grows on the gravelly slopes near the entrance. Because many of its rare plants belong to the goosefoot family, the area is also called Kazayağı Cenneti. Frogs, lizards, vipers, woodpeckers, goldfinches, sparrows and squirrels have been recorded here. With slopes in red, brown, grey and yellow, the site is suited to nature photography and birdwatching; the ministry page lists no visitor facilities. Access is by private vehicle. The monument lies about 109 km from central Ankara and 27 km from Nallıhan town, reached from the Ankara-Nallıhan (D140) road by the Akçabayır road, which branches off at Kaya Burnu. Akçabayır, part of Davutoğlan, is the nearest settlement, about 1 km away. The site is managed by the Nallıhan office of the DKMP 9th Regional Directorate.