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Exposed to the gentle Mediterranean breezes, the snow-covered peaks of the Taurus Mountain Range intermingle with the foothills spread out like a colorful nomadic carpet of flowers dotted with fruit orchards, pine, fir, cedar and juniper trees.
 When the crocuses blossom in the spring, the nomads (Yörükler) set off to find pasture for their animals among the highlands covered with the very hues of green. When the Mediterranean summer heat begins to make itself felt in the lowlands and coastal areas, the flight begins to cooler altitudes where the springwater is cold and crystal clear.
Plant Life: The Taurus Mountains have a wide assortment of plant cover and as one ascends and disappears from the coast areas, the diversity of the plant cover varies. Citrus orchards, different types of shrubs, sandalwood, a variety of oaks, sycamore tree, wild olive trees, blackberries, terebinth trees, heath, frankincense, mastic, redbud, strawberry and laurel trees, as well as different types of pine and juniper trees, beech, Taurus fir and cedar trees enhance the natural beauty of this mountain range. A wide variety of flowers during the spring months.Snowdrops, wild cyclamen, narcissus, hyacinth, poppies, oregano, lavender, mint, purslane, tulips and daisies are among the more common types of flora seen in this area.
Wildlife: The wildlife in these mountains presents the same diversity as that of the rich plant cover. Taurus Mountains are home for birds such as pigeons, blackbirds, francolins, partridges, quail, turtledoves, woodcock as well as for eagles, sturnidaes, falcons, chaffinches and orioles. Animals that can be observed here in their natural habitat are deer, fallow deer, bezoar goat, boar, lynx, roe deer, fox, wolf, jackals, martens, rabbits and hyena.
The Taurus highlands are found within the provinces of Gaziantep, Hatay (Antioch), Adana, İçel, Antalya and Muğla. |
