A Day Around Seyhan Lake
Seyhan Lake is actually an artificial lake…
A dam built in 1956 by closing the front of the Seyhan River
with an earthen embankment.
Perhaps one of Turkey's first dams…
Contrary to today's technology, because it was built with an
earthen embankment instead of concrete, it was called the "Earth Dam"
in the early years. In those years, the dam lake was quite far from the city,
but after 1980, the city was moved around the lake with the New Adana Project.
Therefore, Adnan Menderes Boulevard was opened, West and East bridges were
built, and the chance to drive around the lake was revealed.
Adnan Menderes Boulevard
We recommend that you start your tour around the lake from
the beginning of Adnan Menderes Boulevard and spend time taking a break at the
place you like, based on what we have told you. When you enter Adnan Menderes
Boulevard, you will see the amusement park on your left. After the amusement
park, restaurants and cafes will start at regular intervals. After the corner
where the White House Facilities are located, you will see peddlers on the edge
of every pocket built as a parking lot. While these peddlers sell Bici Bici, a
cold dessert unique to Adana, in summer, they sell sahlep in winter. If you
think that Adana's winters are in the warmth of Central Anatolia's spring, you
can sit on the lakeside stools of these sellers in summer and winter and enjoy
watching Sevgi Island. In fact, you should give up the word "you can
live" and taste this pleasure after sunset in the summer and when the sun
is out in the winter.
American Island
After the bici bici pleasure, the road will take you to
Menderes Island. Don't be fooled by what I said "Island", nowadays it
has become a peninsula because it is connected to the boulevard by a band, our
American Island... We mean that its name has changed, just like its island.
After 1980 (with the logic of being equal to the boulevard) its name became
Menderes. But it is still popularly referred to as the American Island. We
should not forget that there is a chance to have a picnic on Menderes Island.
After the island, the boulevard will continue to take you around. As you cross
the paths that curve as if dancing with the shoreline of the lake, you will
reach Çoban Dede Park, leaving behind the fishermen who linger with their
fishing rods. If you continue on your way leaving the Shepherd Dede Tomb on
your left, the boulevard turns into a single-lane road and continues.
Turkey's Longest Bridge
And the winding road will take you to the West Bridge.
Open-air cafeterias and country restaurants are clustered around the West
Bridge, which is one of the longest bridges in Turkey with a length of around
1300 meters. Topalak Village starts right after crossing the bridge. The
vicinity of Topalak Village is the most beautiful place where the lake and
Adana City can be seen together. Our advice to those who want to take pictures
of Adana is to experience every hour of the day in Topalak. The road that will
continue with the East Bridge after Topalak will take you to the wetlands of
the Kargakekeç region. Here you will feel that Seyhan Lake is a Ramsar
contracted Bird Sanctuary. Thousands of birds in the lake on your left will
send you towards Menekşe Village.
Violet
If you follow the newly built boulevard on your right, you
will come to the Menekşe region, where luxury residences continue to be built
and which overlooks the lake. As you exit Menekşe, do not pass without visiting
the Süleyman Demirel Arberetum (Plant Museum) on your right. Arberetum, one of
Turkey's three plant museums, has more than 200 plant varieties. Continue on
your way by turning to the University after the Hekim Village junction. Turning
towards the university gate from Balcalı Hospital Junction, following the
Mithat Özsan Amphitheater road, and passing the Engineering Faculty, you
realize that you have come to Lovers' Hill by seeing the lovers hugging each
other. This is one of the beautiful spots where you can watch the lake. Then
continue on your way, exit the university gate and head south. Meanwhile,
Sabancı Mosque with 6 minarets will be pointing at you from afar. At the junction
after passing the dormitories, turn right again and you will reach the earthen
embankment of the dam. If you look to your left as soon as you get on the set,
you can see the hydroelectric power plant and the insatiable view of Dilberler
Sekisi from another angle. Now we have come to the end of the road… When we
continue, the earthen embankment will carry you back to the beginning of Adnan
Menderes Boulevard.
Zoology…
Butterfly Fish 40 years ago, peddlers used to sell Kelebicin on zinc-plated tables as "meat fish"... It was not a sales policy for them to shout "Alive, alive" when selling, because the fish would not die until it was cut into pieces. The reason was the ability of Kelebicin, a kind of lunged catfish unique to Lake Seyhan, to breathe outside of water. However, when this fish, which can weigh up to 50 kilos, started to become extinct, it was taken under protection and hunting was prohibited. But we can say that Butterfly, which has almost no bones and is therefore called meat fish, is one of the most delicious fish.
*Destination Program and Photos are taken from S. Haluk Uygur's book "52 Week Adana and Its Surroundings".
Sunset Adana Photo: Volkan Topal
