Turkey - Black Sea Region [antikvár]

THE BLACK SEA COAST The vibrant green of Turkey's lush, humid Black Sea Coast surprises those who imagine the country to be nothing but barren steppe. From the European bordér with Bulgaria to the Georgián bordér, dense pine forests cover the mountaintops while lush vegetation and bountiful crops grow in the lower elevations and valleys. Along the coasdine, mile after mile of beautiful uncrowded beaches offer sun, swimming and relaxation. In the springtime, delicate wild-flower blossoms carpet the rolling meadows of the eastem hills. The wooden houses in fishing villages and mountain hamlets alike preserve indigenous and traditional arehitectural styles. The humid climate and fertile soil encourage cultivation of a variety of crops including tea, tobacco, com and hazelnuts. The magic of such a diverse landscape proves irresistible to any friend of nature, whether hiker or mountain climber or canoe enthusiast; whether you Hu IjH Rí .jfl^iit f BSB k ií|EH K8IH1 J^^HH Safranbolu, Karabük go in by mountain bike or by jeep safari. Archeological excavations from the Late Chalcolithic Age settlements at íkiztepe in Samsun Province have imcovered evidence of the region's earliest inhabitants betweén 5000-4000 BC. The Hittites, Miletians, Phrygians and, aceording to Homer, the Amazons all colonized parts of the coast. Alexander the Great in his world conquest alsó brought the region under his sovereignty. Eventually, it was incorporated into the Román and then the Byzantine Empire. The 15th century saw the greater part of the area come under the Ottoman rule of Sultan Mehmet II. The Black Sea is easily accessible to tourists and provides a wide rangé of hotels and restaurants at a variety of prices.