COUNTRY TURKEY

NAME Gelibolu Yarimadasi HNP (Gallipoli Peninsula Historic National Park)

MANAGEMENT CATEGORY V (Protected Landscape)

BIOGEOGRAPHICAL PROVINCE 2.17.06 (Mediterranean Sclerophyll)

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION The park is located in the south of the Gelibolu (Gallipoli) peninsula, bordering the Canakkale Bogazi or Dardenelles at the entrance to the Sea of Marmara. The park is part of the Marmara region, Canakkale province in the ancient territory of Thrace. 41°20'N, 26°15'E

DATE AND HISTORY OF ESTABLISHMENT The historic battleground site was set up as a National Park (Milli Park) on 2 November 1973, and subsequently on 14 November 1980 the whole of the Gallipoli Peninsula was declared a national park.

AREA 33,000ha

LAND TENURE 20,000ha state ownership, controlled by the Ministry of Forestry; 13,000ha private land, subject to certain governmental controls.

ALTITUDE ranges from sea-level to 340m.

PHYSICAL FEATURES The park consists of the Gelibolu Peninsula, which forms one flank of the Dardanelle Straits. It is represented by a rather flat calcareous series of terraces, rising in steps to fairly mountainous terrain in the north. The shoreline varies from sandy beaches and bays to steep rock-faces and cliffs particularly in the vicinity of Saroz bay. Anafarta (Suvla) Bay on the northwest, between the Small and Great Kemikli promontories, is one of the best natural bays along the Thracian sector of the Aegean Sea. The northern and southern sections of the Gelibolu Yarimadasi reveal obvious traces of tectonic movements, while the centre of the region show signs of having been hollowed out by water erosion at the end of the Pliocene and the beginning of the Quaternary periods. Gently inclined calcareous layers are to be found from the plateau extending towards the west behind Kilitbahir to the furthest extremity of the peninsula. The hilly or mountainous region to the north consists of peaks formed by strata extending in a south-west to north-east direction from Kanlisirt to Ureydag.

CLIMATE Mediterranean semi-arid bioclimate.

VEGETATION The remaining natural woodland is found on the higher mountain and hill slopes and is dominated by the two pine species Pinus pinea and P. brutia along with Mediterranean cypress Cupressus sempervivens and the oriental plane Platanus orientalis. The original forest vegetation of the area consisted mainly of woodland of valonia oak Quercus aegilops and pedunculate oak Q. petraea. It would appear that these forests were gradually replaced by stands of Calabrian pine Pinus brutia by anthropogenic activities. Other forest trees still to be found at Gelibolu include stone pine Pinus pinea and oriental hornbeam Carpinus orientalis (Aktar, 1984). Degraded scrub woodland, which is the commonest semi-natural or natural habitat on the peninsula, is dominated by the oaks Quercus ilex and Q. coccifera along with wild olive Olea europea, strawberry tree Arbutus unedo, lentisc Pistacia lentiscus and P. terebinthus. In total there is 10,850ha of woodland, which includes extensive areas of planted Pinus brutia and other trees. Other habitats include cultivated coastal fields and orchards (15,193ha) and pasture land (274ha).

FAUNA The wolf Canis lupus is still thought to occur at Gelibolu. The commoner mammals include rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus, fox Vulpes vulpes, beech or stone marten Martes foina, and wild boar Sus scrofa (Aktar, 1984). The avifauna is typical of dry eastern Mediterranean coasts, comprising such species as rock partridge Alectoris graeca, blue rock-thrush Monticola solitarius, wheatears Oenanthe spp., and rock nuthatch Sitta neumayer. Water birds are not uncommon on the Tuz Golu marshes to the east of Suvla.

The Gulf of Saros, which extends across the whole of the northern part of the Gallipoli peninsula (Trakia Khersonnesos) constitutes one of the most important fish breeding grounds in the whole of the Aegean (Aktar, 1984).

CULTURAL HERITAGE The park was largely created for its cultural and historic importance. The national park contains the sites of a number of ancient citues, such as Prostesileion near Karaayactepe, Elaus (Eski Hisarlik), Arrhianei (Havuzlar) and Alapeconnessos (Büyük Kemikli) (Aktar, 1984). The region was of strategic importance to the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines and later generations as exemplified in the Dardenelle battles of the First World War. Here the European Allies attempted to push through the Dardenelle straits (1915) to support Russia. The Ottoman empire resisted the Allies on the Gelibolu (Gallipoli) peninsular and this is when the future founder of the modern Turkish state, Lieutenant Colonel Mustafa Kemal (Ataturk), rose to distinction. Memorials have been erected for the Turkish soldiers and those of the English, French, Australian and New Zealand forces who lost their lives at Gallipoli, a total of 200,000 soldiers (Bilbasar, 1984). Commemoration ceremonies are held on 18th March for the Navy, 6 April for Seddul-bahir and 9 August for the battles of Anafartalar.

LOCAL HUMAN POPULATION The park contains a large resident population inhabiting numerous villages and towns on the peninsula, including the main town and port at Gelibolu and Eceabat. The economy is based on agriculture, fishing, forestry and small industries.

VISITORS AND VISITOR FACILITIES The park contains a wealth of activities for the visitor, ranging from excursions to the battlefields and war memorials to sightseeing the countryside and local ruins. The peninsula is approached by main road from Istanbul (c.350km), or by ferry from Canakkale (where there is an airport) and from Lapseki. Lodgings may be found in villages within the Park boundary and there are also camping facilities. Hotel accomodation exists or is planned at Canakkale, Gelibolu and Saroz Bay. There are outdoor exhibits, reconstructed trenches and museums connected with the First World War battles such as at Cimenlik fort at Canakkale.

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND FACILITIES Most research in the area has been of a historical character to study the numerous archaeological sites and structures remaining from the Great War battles.

CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT The park was primarily established to protect and promote the historic landscape of the Gallipoli region. Measures have been taken to preserve the many valuable historical, military, ancient and natural features of the peninsula. At present there is no effective zoning, but it is envisaged to be employed in the future in order to maintain the natural and cultural resources of the Park.

MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS Listed management problems affecting the wildlife of the park include cultivation and grazing by livestock, exploitation of forest produce, excessive hunting and touristic or recreational pressures. Great damage has been caused by the frequent forest fires (Aktar, 1984).

STAFF One ranger and five wardens (1980)

BUDGET 3,000,000TL (1980)

LOCAL ADMINISTRATION Gelibolu Yarimadasi Tarihi Milli Parkim Sefligi, Eceabat-Canakkale.

REFERENCES
Aktar, O. (1984). Gallipoli peninsula nature. Ilgi No. 38: 8-9.
Bilbasar, S. (1984). Gallipoli Pensinsula Historic National Park. Ilgi No. 38: 1-7.
General Directorate of National Parks and Wildlife (1980). National Parks of Turkey. Ministry of Forestry, General Directorate of National Parks and Wildlife, Ankara.

DATE January 1988
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