In the heart of eastern Turkey, in the Darende district of Malatya province, is one of the lesser-known but fascinating natural gems: the Tohma Canyon. At the entrance, I really liked the landscape design, decor, beautiful fir trees, various decorative trees, and at the entrance to the horse park, such a beautiful mosque was visible.
I really liked this location, from the wooden observation recess, you could see the wide and powerful river that won the leading role here. In general, this place combines picturesque beauty, a thousand-year history and geological formations that testify to deep times. The canyon was carved by the Tohma Çayı River, which over the millennia has cut through rock formations and created gorges with impressive vertical walls.
In the middle, this park has been very refined and looks very cozy, stylish and interesting. There are many wooden bridges, wooden paths, structures, paths, fountains, and even a mill, the place is very noble and attractive to visit. I got a complete renewal and peace of mind while walking there, it really finds some magical power over you there. Geologically, the Darende area is part of the Darende Formation / Balaban Basin, which includes sediments and rocks dating back to the Eocene. Stratigraphic analyses show that the formations contain carbonates that were deposited in a shallow marine environment tens of millions of years ago.
The rock walls surrounding the walking route are visual evidence of a landscape shaped by tectonic processes, sedimentation and river erosion. The limestone rocks and deep cracks testify to how nature carved these landforms, turning the walk into a fascinating geological experience. In particular, vegetation such as cypresses, plane trees, willows and fig trees complement the noticeably eroded rocks. The fact that tall trees and various vegetation hang over the river and overgrown bridges adds such mystery.There are also many small elements in the park that create the atmosphere, various decorations, etc.
Another of the most shocking and surprising moments for me is the incredibly large old authentic iron water mill that was once used to process wheat and other grains. The sound of water, the splash of small natural waterfalls and the rapid river are all part of the charm. The bright rays of the sun that illuminated the flowing water and made rainbow reflections simply enchanted me, I thought I had fallen into some Disney fairy tale.
After crossing the bridge, we continued walking for a long time along the turbulent turquoise river, parallel to the towering, breathtaking cliffs. We were able to reach the very end of the pedestrian zone, where we came up against two rocks and a stunning view of the sunlit river. There was a kind of relaxing area there — little cafés and tables right by the water, people chatting leisurely without any rush — such a vibey place. And right there, a family of ducks was chilling just as peacefully.
Even though @olga.maslievich said she found it boring, for me that kind of setup is incredibly calming and soothing. Since it was impossible to cross to the other side, so we had to go back the same way and cross the same bridge near the mill to continue along the scenic route. So the Darende region boasts a centuries-old history: it has been inhabited since ancient times, with settlements estimated to have existed around 7000 BC. Over the millennia, civilizations such as the Hittites, Assyrians, Greeks, Romans and then various medieval possessions succeeded each other.
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Thus, Tohma Canyon also became a natural crossroads, facilitating communication, trade and travel in eastern Anatolia. Recently, this area has become a tourist destination: in autumn it is considered a particularly picturesque place due to the contrast between the color of the leaves and the shades of the rocks. One of my favorite parts was near a large cave, where you could climb a very stylish staircase with beautiful green railings to a second-level wooden observation deck, by the way, there was a very beautiful green waterfall near them.
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At the entrance, on the wooden deck, there was a kind of natural pool where very beautiful fish swam. Walking along that pool, I also saw such a mysterious inscription in hieroglyphs that I can't understand, from everywhere there are always very beautiful views of the mountains. Also in that pool was hidden a fairly deep underwater cave, a little scary. The girls wanted to get their feet wet, but I was afraid because maybe the fish would bite. Later we went for a walk along it and it was like in some Japanese movie, I don't know why it reminded me of it. The reports were very beautiful, as was the view of everything, the mill, the river, and the settlement in general.
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This wooden structure was built along the mosque, and after that we went down and headed to the exit to the shopping area. So, the conclusion is that Tokma Canyon embodies an authentic dimension where the human hand has integrated with nature, without oppressing it.
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