Safranbolu’s natural values are as interesting as its cultural values. The city is a series of canyons between the Yenice forests in the north and the Araç and Soğanlı rivers. Sakaralan, Sırçalı, Kirpe, Tokatlı and Bulak canyons, which are located on the line extending from east to west, flow from north to south towards the Araç Stream. Safranbolu city center is also a valley settlement within the canyons.
The city spread towards the junction of Akçasu Creek with Gümüş Creek. The settlements of Bağlar and Kıranköy are located in the Tokatlı Canyon (Gümüş Creek) Basin and the rest of the city is spread around Akçasu Creek.
Safranbolu Canyons
Safranbolu has geologically interesting rock formations. These rock formations completed their formation at the end of Time II and generally in Time III. These geological formations are natural and culturally valuable. Three canyons (Düzce, Sırçalı and Sakaralan) in Safranbolu geography are connected to each other. The other two canyons (Tokatlı and Bulak) are natural values of Karabük province as a part of this integrity. After Sakaralan Canyon and Sırçalı Canyon merge in the area named Sukavuşan in Konarı Village, they meet with Kirpe Canyon near Yazıköy and flow into Araç Stream.
Araç Stream
The most powerful water source of Safranbolu is the Araç Stream. Most of the water resources born in the city’s geography flow into the Araç Stream and a very small portion into the Soğanlı Stream. Araç Stream was formed by the merger of small streams descending from the Ilgaz Mountains. Ilgaz Stream takes the name of Araç Stream after passing through Araç district. It then exits the borders of Kastamonu province near Kadıncı Village. In this section, it merges with Taşçıdeğirmen Stream, the most important stream around Eflani. Araç Stream merges with Soğanlı Stream in Karabük city center and takes the name Yenice River. The river, which also receives Devrek Stream, flows into the Black Sea under the name of Filyos River.
Bulak Cave
There are approximately 40 thousand caves in Turkey, which is a ‘cave paradise country’ compared to other countries in the world. Karstic areas, which are important geological-geomorphological features in terms of cave formations, are located in the Western and Central Taurus Mountains in Turkey.
Bulak Cave, located 8.5 km northwest of Safranbolu, is the fourth longest cave in Turkey and the second longest in the Black Sea Region. Located in the northern section of the Araç Stream, at the point where the Mağara Deresi Canyon, fed by high mountains, ends, the cave has a total length of 6050 meters. The cave, which consists of three interconnected levels in the north-south direction, was formed 65-200 million years ago. The longest section is the ‘Lower Level’ and has three entrances. The newest section of the cave, which is 4300 meters long, has a large underground stream flowing through it in summer and winter. This underground stream has formed lakes of different sizes with depths of 3-5 meters in places. The underground stream in the cave, which is formed by the underground waters fed by the high mountains behind, emerges from a large mouth. Especially the last sections are completely filled with water. Some of these waters meet the drinking and utility water needs of Safranbolu.
Hızar Cave
Hızar Cave, located in the village of Aşağı Dana, about 8 km from the center of Safranbolu, was formed in the old limestones of the Eocene Period III at the beginning of the Tokatlı Canyon formed by the erosion of the limestones by the Hızar Stream. The horizontally developed cave with a wide entrance consists of a main corridor and two side corridors connected to this main corridor. There are karstic forms such as stalactites and stalagmites as a result of the dissolution and shaping of the limestones by the groundwater.
Sarıçiçek Mount
Sarıçiçek Mountain, located on the Yenice Forests forming the northern border of Safranbolu, has a height of 1750 meters. The mass consisting of rocks belonging to the Eocene Period of the Tertiary Period of the Tertiary Period of Time III (Cenozoic) is rich in forest texture. The region, which has no transhumance tradition today, is very rich in terms of highland forest texture.
Uluyayla
Uluyayla, located on the Küre Mountains range, is partly located in Safranbolu and partly in Ulus district of Bartın. It starts at an altitude of 300 meters in Ovacuma Village of Safranbolu and reaches an altitude of 1416 meters in Göktepe. The untouched forest and diversity of wildlife is a natural value. It constitutes an outstanding area for transhumance in the region.
Natural Vegetation of Safranbolu
There are over 12 thousand plant species in Turkey. Safranbolu’s most economically valuable natural products are saffron and sergeant grapes. The dominant tree species in Safranbolu are beech and fir, as well as yellow pine, Sarıçam strandzha oak (Quercus hartwissiana), hornbeam, larch, ash, sessile oak, aspen, black poplar, yew, poplar, elm, mountain juniper, linden, maple species and woody species such as birch, alder, alder and plane. In addition, woody species such as bearberry, rowan, sumac, hazelnut, yemişen, rhododendron, wild rose, elderberry, wild apple, coyote plum, Laz cherry and cranberry are spread. The region is a paradise for orchids and crocuses. Apart from these, there are many well-known flower species such as snowdrops, cyclamen, onosma and iris.
Wildlife
Turkey attracts attention with its extremely different animal communities in terms of animal wealth. The location of the Anatolian peninsula between the continents is the main factor for this. Accordingly, the existing natural fauna in Turkey can be divided into four main groups: mammals, birds, reptiles, frogs and frogs, as well as fish. As a result of the field studies conducted throughout the province, 28 mammal species were encountered and when the mammal species in the literature are added, it was determined that 57 different mammal species are distributed throughout the province. During the field studies, 160 bird species from 44 different families were identified in the province. These birds can be found as local, summer migrants, winter migrants and passage birds. Among the birds identified; Anatolian nuthatch, black vulture, peregrine falcon, little vulture, goshawk, little flycatcher, black woodpecker are among the rarest records. Safranbolu is also rich in butterfly and mushroom species.
Text: Mehmet Çetin, Photos: İsmail Şahinbaş
– Mehmet Çetin, Safranbolu Tourism Operators Association, Board Member
WORLD HERITAGE MAGAZINE ISSUE 1 (APRIL 2023)