Murat River
The Murat River (Murat Nehri), also known as the Eastern Euphrates, is a major source of the Euphrates River. The Ancient Greeks and Romans used to call the river Arsanias. It originates near Mount Ararat north of Lake Van, in Eastern Türkiye, and flows westward for 722 km through mountainous areas. Before the construction of the Keban Dam, the Murat River joined the Karasu River or Western Euphrates 10 km north of the dam site and 13 km north of the town of Keban. In Muş Province, the river is interrupted by the Alpaslan Dams. The river merges into the reservoir of the Keban Dam, at one time Türkiye's largest dam, which was completed in 1974 and provides electrical power.
In this region, winters are harsh and especially snowy. After the snow melts in the low regions, the snow in the highlands starts to melt slowly and feeds the Murat River continuously. The presence of high mountains in the region plus a lot of snow and rain means there are many rich water springs. Various branches arising from these lush springs feed the Murat River, making it a continuous, powerful river.
Aras River
The Aras is a river that starts in Türkiye and then flows along the borders between Türkiye and Armenia. Its total length is 1,072 km of which 548 km are in Türkiye, covering an area of 102,000 square kilometres. One of the main reasons for the importance of Aras throughout history is that it is a river that has been a border between various countries since ancient times.
In 2006, a bird research and education centre were established by KuzeyDoğa, a Turkish non-governmental organization for nature conservation, in the Aras Valley at the village Yukarı Çıyrıklı, in the Tuzluca district of Iğdır Province. It is one of Türkiye's two active bird ringing stations.
Karasu River
The Karasu (which means black water in Turkish) also known as the Western Euphrates is a long river in eastern Türkiye, one of the two sources of the Euphrates. It has a length of about 450 km.
The river rises on the Dumlu Dağ in Erzurum Province, and drains the plains around the city of Erzurum. Then, it merges with Murat River in Keban district of Elazığ, and these two rivers create the Euphrates.
Sarıkamış - Allahuekber Mountains National Park in Kars and Erzurum
Located within the borders of the provinces of Kars and Erzurum in Eastern Anatolia, the national park is of great historical value by virtue of the 90,000 soldiers who died in the freezing conditions here in 1914 during World War I.
The Sarıkamış Ski Center is situated in the region’s forests and has gained its reputation from the quality of its snow. It is located at an altitude of 2,500 m and has a five-stage runway covering a total of 12 kilometers stretching among pine trees. Cibiltepe is covered in crystal snow making it especially attractive to skiers. Under average winter conditions, the snow is approximately 1,5 m deep.
Munzur Valley National Park in Tunceli
The Munzur Valley National Park (Munzur Vadisi Milli Parkı), located in the province of Tunceli, covers approximately 42,000 hectares.
The national park is at an altitude of 2,500 m above sea level and is dominated by endemic flora and fauna.
The national park has one of the richest floras in Anatolia and offers visitors opportunities to enjoy the region's wildlife and scenic beauty. There are glacial lakes, canyons, and waterfalls in the park. The Kırk Merdiven Waterfall is located on the slopes of the Munzur Mountains.
Tulips in Muş
The tulip, which is native to Muş, is from lilies and it has long leaves. On the top of the stem, there is a single flower. It is usually red. The cultivation of flowers from its seed occurs in a period of three to six years. For this reason, tulip areas are protected. In Muş, the Tulip Festival is held every year on April 29-30 since 2000.
Balık Lake (Fish Lake) in Ağrı
Located on volcanic land in Taşlıçay district, the lake is famous for its fresh water and trout. Located at an altitude of 2,250 m above sea level, the lake is the highest altitude lake in Türkiye. The lake freezes completely in the winter season and becomes favorable for winter sports. The southern part of the lake has a beach and facilities. It is also possible to do trekking around the lake.
