Iconic Ayder Plateau fully restored

The restoration and protection efforts for the picturesque Ayder Plateau in the northeastern province of Rize have been completed, successfully returning this lush green paradise to its former glory, the Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change Ministry has announced.

As part of this renewal project launched in 2019, relevant authorities actively mobilized their resources to facilitate the construction of buildings that align with local architectural styles.

Accordingly, they demolished a total of five hotels in the region, transforming such areas into green spaces. Lodgings designed to blend in with the natural landscape and local architecture have replaced these hotels in an effort to provide sustainable accommodations.

In an effort to alleviate the traffic issues in the region, a nature-friendly parking lot with space for about 1,650 vehicles also came into service.

Additionally, to maintain a nature-based approach and promote sustainability, authorities implemented a wastewater treatment facility on the plateau.

After identifying places that need extreme protection, they removed swings that were illegally constructed in such areas, which were previously polluting the surrounding ecology and spoiling the aesthetics.

Ali Serkan Savaş, a local official from the ministry, emphasized that the initiative is an ecologically sustainable project that aims to put an end to unauthorized alterations that have harmed the plateau's natural landscape.

"Our objective was to build an Ayder where people could enjoy the scenery while strolling without the presence of exhaust fumes, where roads were free of traffic and where waters were purified through wastewater treatment," he said.

Scores of visitors expressed their...

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