The Marmara Region - Turkey with Your Family: From Bustling Bazaars to Historic Sites - page 102

pelicans and spoonbills. If your
children and teenagers are keen
on wildlife, and in particular
birds, then a visit should be a
must on the agenda. Considered
an important bird sanctuary, the
Ku @ Cenneti National Park was
established in 1938 by the
German zoologist Curt Crosswig.
Although there are few amenities
other than picnic areas and a tea
room, it does offer the chance to
explore the area, to see the birds
from observation points and to
visit its small ornithological
museum . The park is around 20
kms or so from Bandirma in the
Balikesir area. Although sign-
posted from Bandirma and
Balikesir, the network of small
roads leading to the park makes it
easy to miss a sign. Keep a close
look out and finding the park
should be trouble-free.
National Park of Gelibolu
Peninsula, Çanakkale

memorials, cemeteries, gardens
and monuments, including one
that dominates the headland, as
well as a huge salt lake, the Tuz
Gölü , which attracts birdlife and
wildlife. Lying as close as it does
to some good beaches, a visit to
the park could make an ideal
afternoon excursion when your
children have had enough of
building sandcastles or need a
break from the sun.
Uludag National Park

★
Uludag National Park, Bursa.

In summer, the Uluda g National
Park is a wilderness of country-
side, nature trails and picnic areas
located in the foothills of the
great Uluda g Mountain range, a
50-minute drive from Bursa. A
handful of restaurants such as the
Monte Baia Restaurant give the
chance of a welcome break. If
your family likes to get away
from it all then this is the place to
head to. Keen twitchers will be
happy as many species of birds
call the area home including, if
you're lucky enough to see one,
the Tengmalm's Owl - a very rare
local bird in Turkey - along with
species of raptor, butterflies,
alpine meadows and forest areas.
In winter, the Uluda g National
Park is probably best known for
its excellent skiing (see p. 110).
There are ski schools, cable cars
and slopes for all levels from
beginners through to advanced
skiers, so if you're visiting in the
winter months this is the ideal
place to head with your family.

★
National Park of Gelibolu Peninsula,
Eceabat, Çanakkale. b [phone]
10 25.

A remarkable park that manages
to combine a sense of serenity
with being a place to enjoy as a
family, the National Park of
Gelibolu Peninsula at Çanakkale
has long stretches of sandy
beaches, beautifully clear and safe
waters, cliffs and large areas of
parkland and woodland to enjoy.
Significantly, as a monument cre-
ated to honour the 500,000 or so
soldiers who lost their lives in the
Gelibolu, or Gallipoli, battle in
1915, it also has outstanding

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