Taurus Mountains
Taurus Mountains, called as Toros in Turkish, is a mountain range in the
Mediterranean region of Turkey, running approximately 560 kms parallel to the
coast, and forming the southern border of the Anatolian plateau. Rising at the
western-most range of the Great Himalayas, it is Turkey's second chain of folded
mountains after Pontus mountains. The range starts from Egridir lake in the west
and extends to the upper side of the Euphrates (Firat) River in the east after
making a long curve. Its northeastern extension across the Seyhan River near
Adana is called as Anti-Taurus.
The collision of the European and African plates resulted in this mountain
formation in Anatolia. Limestone has eroded to form karstic landscapes of
waterfalls, underground rivers, and the largest caves of Asia, especially in the
Yedigoller valley.
The highest peaks of the Taurus range are: Demirkazik (3,756 m) at the Aladaglar
National Park between Nigde and
Adana; Emler and Kizilkaya (both 3,723 m) in the
center; Nemrut in the Anti-Taurus; Erciyes (ancient Mount Argaeus) in
Kayseri
(3,916 m) is also considered part of the Taurus range even though it's in
central Anatolia. Some of this peaks have glaciers on top with a small lake as
well. The mountains are rugged, magnificent, and most difficult to
climb after Ararat.
The Taurus range is crossed by five major passes; the Cilician Gates (Gülek
Bogazi, northwest of Adana and north of
Tarsus) is the best known. The mountains
have always been a barrier to movements between central Anatolia and the coast.
Today especially nomads live on the mountains nearby water. One of the most
important cities around Taurus is Antalya, a famous
tourist region. About 40% of
foreign tourists stay in and around Antalya and go on
daily tours. Some sections of Taurus are also well-known
for winter sports such as skiing.
The range has important chromium deposits and other minerals such as silver,
copper, iron, lignite, and zinc. The Anti-Taurus are well forested but Aladaglar
area doesn't have much vegetation because of the
lack of rivers except small ones formed by melting snow depending on the
climate.