Motorcycle Tour - June 2011 - Acarlar Foodplain Forest

While I was checking my photos about this tour, I recognized that I didn't take much pictures after reaching Black Sea coast. After leaving Kirsehir, we decided to take a long trip to reach the coast side. And our final stop that day was Akcakoca, Düzce. We arrived in the afternoon and were very tired. The journey continued its magnificence. After several days we saw the sea again. After checking in to a hotel at the seaside, we walked a little bit and had dinner while sunset. My friend, Ugur, was already sleepy at dinner. :) So we went back to the hotel and had a good rest. Since Akcakoca is only a summer district for local tourists, there was not much interesting stuff to shoot for me.

The next morning we  started our day early and took the seaside road that leads back to Istanbul. On the way, we stopped at Acarlar Foodplain Forest, Sakarya. I heard about it very much and was very happy to be there. Thanks to Ugur!!

This guy is a legend. His name is Yilmaz Sütcü and he volunteered himself to protect this marvelous and unique foodplain forest. He has a small boat that you can hire for an hour and he brings you along the river, up to the point that it is forbidden for tourism. Only scientists, researches and him can go after that point. What a privilege! I have to say, Yilmaz earned this because he is been protecting the area for nearly 20 years. I really admire him. Be well, thanks for your guidance and most of all for your sympathy.

You can see the forest part here easily. We weren't allowed to go inside but I was lucky to get this shot. During the season this forest will be under the river!! I would like to see that very very much...

Acarlar Foodplain Forest has an enormous ecosystem, in which you can see water violet in the next picture. It is endemic to here!! And much more to see :)