Danamandıra Tabiat Parkı

Danamandıra Nature Park is a wooded area with lakes in northern Silivri, just southwest of the village of Danamandıra. Danamandıra is one of the thirteen villages listed in the Silivri Municipality's district profile and lies inland from the district centre. The area was registered as a protected site for the conservation of nature in 2006. According to the list of nature parks of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks, the area was declared a nature park on 16 December 2015. The park is among the protected areas under the ministry's 1st Regional Directorate in Istanbul. English Wikipedia gives the park's area as about 381 hectares. The park's most distinctive feature is its three lakes, whose shores are covered with reeds. In 2016 the municipality of the neighbouring district of Esenyurt leased the park for 49 years to give residents of its crowded district a place to relax. The park opened to visitors in the middle of May that year. The Esenyurt Municipality still runs it today and presents it among its own facilities. According to the municipality's description, the park has walking and cycling paths with lake views as well as picnic and rest areas. The same page clearly states that camping in the park is forbidden. Danamandıra should therefore be thought of as a place for a day of nature walking or a picnic. According to the Silivri Municipality's district profile, forest begins as you head north towards the villages, where altitude and humidity increase. The same source lists species such as oak, hornbeam, linden, cornel and willow in the district's forests. The profile also notes that animals such as roe deer, hare, fox and squirrel, and birds such as duck, goose, buzzard and sparrowhawk live in the district's forests. The park's lakes sit within this forest belt as calm water surfaces ringed by trees. The reedy shores provide shelter for waterbirds and a frame for photographers. The most enjoyable part of a visit is a slow walk along the path that circles the lakes. While walking, keep your voice low so as not to startle the birds moving among the reeds. In the early morning the lake surface is calmer and the reflections of the trees are sharper. In autumn, the yellowing of the forest leaves makes this the park's most colourful season. After rainy days the dirt paths can get muddy, so wear suitable shoes. Because the park is a protected area, taking your rubbish home and not harming plants are basic rules. Lighting fires carries a risk of forest fire, so use only the designated areas for picnics. According to Wikipedia, a fee is charged for vehicles at the park entrance. Visiting hours and entry conditions may change, so we recommend checking the Esenyurt Municipality's official page before you go. Because the park lies far from the district centre among villages, public transport access is limited and most visitors come by private car. You can find current information on İETT routes to central Silivri through official channels and plan a transfer from there. The Silivri Municipality writes that in the district rain begins in autumn, becomes heavier in winter, and that the area shows the features of the Thracian climate. According to the same source, continental influences grow stronger as you go north and west, so winter mornings in the park can be cooler than on the coast. The Esenyurt Municipality presents the park as a nature experience that is educational for children and restful for adults. Combined on the same day with Kalepark in Silivri, Danamandıra offers a balanced trip between coast and forest. It is a quiet, green stop for anyone wanting to get away from the crowds of the city for a few hours.