Çoruh River Valley. Photo Courtesy of EvgenyGenkin.
Originating in the Mescit Mountains in north-eastern Turkey and flowing 290 miles along the Kelkit-Çoruh Fault through the cities of Bayburt, Ispir, Yusufeli and Artvin before dumping into the Black Sea, the Coruh River is one of the fastest-flowing rivers in the world.
The Çoruh River Valley, which lies within the Caucasus ecological zone, is considered a biodiversity hotspot by the World Wild Fund for Nature and by Conservation International. It contains 104 nationally-threatened plant species, of which 67 are endemic to Turkey, as well as colonies of red vultures, which are threatened with extinction. The area surrounding the river is rich in wildlife, including gray bears, mountain goats with hooked horns, wild boar, wolves, jackals, foxes, badgers, martens, water sables, wild roosters, golden orioles, siskins and fieldfares, among others.
Due to its biodiversity and natural beauty, the Çoruh Valley has been called Turkey’s last remaining wild river and ‘an eco-tourism gem’. One of the biggest draws of the Coruh Valley in recent years has been its legendary rapids, attracting canoeurs, kayakers and rafters from around the world. Another big draw of the valley is its hiking opportunities, particularly treks that leads into and around the Kackar Mountains, where you’ll find some of the finest hiking in the country.
The small towns and villages along Çoruh’s banks are interesting historically, and the area as a whole is a great representation of the synthesis of Eastern Anatolian and Black Sea cultures. Some interesting towns in the valley include Bayburt, a former post along the Silk Road renowned for its music, folklore and historic buildings; Ispir, home to the ruins of several Saltuk, Seljuk and Ottoman citadels; and Yusufeli, home a number of fortresses and citadels.
One of the best times to visit is during regional festivals, of which the best known is the Kafkasör Cultural and Arts Festival held each year in the second half of June. The festival is unique in the world, featuring a Turkish version of bullfighting in which prize bulls are pitted against each other in fights that stop short of mortal injury.