Çilingoz Nature Park

About

Çilingoz Nature Park lies in a cove in the Çatalca district of İstanbul where sea, forest, lake and reed beds meet. Designated in 2011, it covers 17.75 hectares and has a fine-sand beach 80 m wide. Coming from the north, the Çilingoz Deresi stream forms a large lake fringed with reeds before it reaches the cove, because its mouth is narrow. Owing to the rich wildlife of the area, a wider zone that includes the park was declared a Wildlife Protection Area in 2005, and hunting is permanently banned there. The forest is dominated by oriental beech, alder, hornbeam and Turkey oak, with rhododendron, myrtle, bay laurel and strawberry tree among the shrubs. Plants such as field eryngo and dyer's alkanet grow on the dunes. Birds include quail, cormorant, woodcock, eagle owl and stork, and mammals such as deer, roe deer, pine marten and wolf also live here. Visitors can swim off the beach, fish in the lake, walk in the forest and camp in designated spots. A country restaurant and a kiosk are available; swimmers should beware of currents.