Guide
Şehitlik Tabiat Parkı is a small park of about 5.7 hectares in the Tosmurlu neighbourhood of the Silifke district of Mersin, given nature park status in July 2011. It takes its name from the Cyprus war cemetery opposite it — the memorial forest for those killed in the Cyprus peace operation.
Calabrian pine and Syrian juniper dominate, with myrtle, kermes oak, white willow and fig, and reed beds and herbaceous communities along the streams; most of the vegetation is forest. Fox, beech marten, brown hare, crested porcupine, various songbirds and local birds, reptiles, insects and bats live here, and the Directorate notes that there is no sensitive or endemic species among them and that populations are at natural levels.
Facilities are an entrance control point, an information unit, a warden's house, a car park, a country café with an events area, a children's playground, picnic areas with shelters and barbecues, lavatories and basic service buildings. Roads within the park are partly unsurfaced and partly broken asphalt, and some older structures — a restaurant and disused lavatories — are out of use. Stated capacity is 80 visitors and 20 vehicles.
The entrance is on the Silifke–Gülnar road. Silifke is 6.5 kilometres away, Taşucu 11, Erdemli 47, Gülnar 62, Mut 75 and Mersin 91. Minibuses running between Silifke and Gülnar and between Silifke and Gökbelen also serve the park.
- Designated
- 11.07.2011
Entry fee
- Mediterranean group 3 · category 2 · Per person
- 50 ₺
