Wildflowers in the Taurus Mountains. Photo courtesy of Vince Smith via Flickr.
The Taurus mountains (Toros Dağları in Turkish) run the length of Turkey’s Mediterranean coast, forming the southern border of the Anatolian plateau and stretching for close to 1,250 miles from Egridir Lake in the west to the upper side of the Euphrates River near the Syrian border.
This vast range is the result of the collision of European and African continental plates, with many peaks that rise from 10,000–12,000 feet. The Taurus Mountains are divided into four ranges: the Beydaglari mountain range in the west, the Aladaglar mountain range in the center, the Bolkar mountain range in the southeast, and the Munzur mountain range in the northeast. The highest peaks are: Demirkazik (12,322 feet), between Nigde and Adana, and Mount Erciyes in Kayseri (12,847 feet).
Fed by rich minerals in the Taurus’ many streams, rare species of plants and animals have sprung up throughout the range, providing the perfect natural environment for jeep safaris through the Taurus Mountains, hiking, mountain climbing, horse riding and camping.
In addition to the wonderful flora and fauna, the Taurus region is also the largest karst region in Turkey, with limestone that has eroded to form karstic landscapes of waterfalls, underground rivers and some of the largest caves in Asia. There are approximately 40,000 known caves and caverns in the area, making it a a great place for spelunking and cave exploration, especially in the Yedigoller valley.
In addition, there are two ski resorts on the mountain range, one at Davras about 16 miles from Egirdir or Isparta, and Saklıkent, anout 25 miles from Antalya, the regional tourist hub.
For culture vultures, the Taurus range is also the home of Nemrut Dağ (Mt. Nemrut), a 7,001-foot mountain in southeastern Turkey, famous for the colossal statues and ruins on its summit, which date back to the 1st century BC.