Uludag

Uludağ, the ancient Mysian Olympus (also Bithynian Olympus), is a mountain in Bursa Province, Turkey, with an elevation of 2,543 m (8,343 ft).

In Turkish, Uludağ means “great mountain”. In ancient times the range of which it is a part, extending along the southern edge of Bithynia, was known as Olympos in Greek and Olympus in Latin, the western extremity being known as the Mysian Olympus and the eastern as the Bithynian Olympus, and the city of Bursa was known as Prusa ad Olympum from its position near the mountain. Throughout the Middle Ages, it contained hermitages and monasteries: “The rise of this monastic center in the 8th c. and its prestige up to the 11th is linked to the resistance of numerous monks to the policy of the iconoclast emperors and then to a latent opposition to the urban, Constantinopolitan monasticism of the Studies.”

Uludag National Park 

Habitats of the park range from maquis on the lower slopes, through deciduous woodland and beech and fir forest to alpine meadows at the highest levels. It is a refuge for mountain birds, such as lammergeier and other vultures, golden eagle, and more than 20 other raptor species. Other high-altitude species include alpine accentor, rock thrushes, and choughs. The area is also good for eastern specialties such as isabelline wheatear, and, at almost the most westerly points of their range, red-fronted serin and Krüper’s nuthatch. The dense fir forest holds short-toed treecreeper, common crossbill, and Tengmalm’s owl, a rare and very local bird in Turkey, as well as the white-backed woodpecker. The rare and local butterfly, Parnassius apollo graslini, is found on Uludag and the area has much of interest to botanists, with colorful pink primroses (Primula vulgaris var. sibthorpii), leopard’s bane (Doronicum orientale), crocuses: the purple Crocus siberi and yellow Crocus flavus, and grape hyacinths (Muscari racemosum). There are also a few wolf packs roaming on the mountain.

For unforgettable memories..