Türkmenbaşı Nature Park

About

Türkmenbaşı Nature Park is in the Sarıyer district of İstanbul, on the left of the road that leads down to Çayırbaşı shore when heading from Maslak towards Hacıosman, right next to the KYK Bahçeköy student dormitory. Designated on 7 May 1998, the 5.60-hectare park was conceived as a place reflecting the culture shared with Turkmenistan and is named after Saparmurat Türkmenbaşı, President of Turkmenistan. This enclosed plot, separated from the surrounding forest, contains trees such as Turkish red pine, sessile oak, hornbeam, oriental plane, Norway spruce, Mediterranean cypress, nettle tree, medlar and western red cedar, as well as shrubs including lavender, barberry, cherry laurel and strawberry tree. Its fauna consists mainly of birds such as chaffinch, magpie, sparrow, jackdaw and woodpecker, together with lizards and squirrels. Because construction and design work is under way, the park currently offers no recreational services; a kiosk, sports facilities and walking paths are planned.