Kargı Highland (Yayla)

Kargı Highland October 2010

Kargı Highland (Yayla) is a highland settlement in the Kargı district in the north of Çorum, located about 21 km north of the town center. Sitting at roughly 1,400 meters above sea level, the highland enjoys a cool and humid climate during the summer months. Lying in the northern part of Çorum province that borders the Black Sea Region, the area around Kargı, with its dense forests, streams and mountainous terrain, has become one of the important centers of highland pastoralism in the region.

Location and Nature

The highland, together with the other highlands around it, forms a broad high-altitude plateau. The nearby Aksu and Gökçedoğan ponds, with both their natural beauty and the opportunities they offer, are a popular destination for those who visit the area. Angling is practiced at these ponds, while the surrounding wooded areas provide a suitable setting for walking and nature outings. The area’s high elevation and vegetation are the main factors that make the highland appealing to those wishing to escape the summer heat.

In the Kızıloluk Highland section to which the highland belongs, picnic grounds have been arranged by the Forest Administration. These arrangements make it easier for the area to be used for recreation by both the local people and day visitors.

Highland Pastoralism Tradition

As in many mountainous areas of Anatolia, in the northern districts of Çorum highland pastoralism was historically a deep-rooted way of making a living and of life that developed hand in hand with animal husbandry. The tradition of moving up to the cool pastures during the summer months gradually merged with a culture of rest and recreation, laying the groundwork for how these areas are used today. Kargı Highland is likewise a natural site where this tradition lives on, integrated with the surrounding ponds and forest areas.

Visiting

The most suitable time to visit the highland is the summer months, when the weather grows mild. Activities such as fishing around the ponds and picnicking and nature walks in the wooded areas stand out. Visitors are advised to be prepared for the changeable weather conditions characteristic of high-altitude areas.

Together with Abdullah Highland in the same district, Kargı Highland forms one of the principal highland areas around Kargı, and within the context of the History of Kargı it is part of the region’s natural heritage. Among similar high-altitude recreation areas across Çorum, Bayat Highland in the Bayat district and the İskilip Highlands in the İskilip area may also be counted.

ℹ️ This article has been enriched with additional historical context and editing over the original archive content.