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Floodplain Forest, River Mouth and Dunes on the Karasu Coast
Cultural

Floodplain Forest, River Mouth and Dunes on the Karasu Coast

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The journey of the Sakarya River ends at Karasu. As the river meets the Black Sea here, it leaves on the shore the sand and silt it has carried for hundreds of kilometres, and over time this deposit builds a coastal landscape of dunes, lagoon lakes and floodplain forests.

Karasu, Sakarya
Cultural
Radar Editör
October 19, 2026

About Trip

The journey of the Sakarya River ends at Karasu. As the river meets the Black Sea here, it leaves on the shore the sand and silt it has carried for hundreds of kilometres, and over time this deposit builds a coastal landscape of dunes, lagoon lakes and floodplain forests. A day on the Karasu coast means seeing the pieces of this landscape one by one. This piece brings together the beach stretching over the dunes, a small lagoon cut off from the sea by sand, the point where the river flows into the sea, and the large floodplain forest to the west.

A delta that does not jut into the sea

The Turkish Wikipedia article on the Sakarya Delta explains that, unlike the Kızılırmak and Yeşilırmak deltas on the same sea, this delta does not form a headland pushing out into the sea. Because the sea deepens suddenly and the coastal currents are strong, the delta has developed mostly in an east to west direction, parallel to the shore. Near the coast there are small lakes and marshes that locals call harım; Akgöl, the Acarlar floodplain forest, Lake Küçükboğaz and Anagöl are counted as the main lakes of the delta. According to the same source the delta dunes, in the form of small hillocks, are on average five metres high, and the area is the longest continuous dune habitat in Turkey. The dune system is mentioned as one of the richest on the Black Sea coasts in terms of biodiversity.

The dunes are not just scenery but also the habitat of plants of their own. Wikipedia writes that two dune plants considered threatened on a global scale, Silene sangaria and the coastal mullein Verbascum degenii, are found in the delta. The same article adds that construction has largely used up the delta dunes along the beach and that coastal retreat is one of the delta's serious problems. That is why, when walking on the surviving parts of the dunes, it is important not to step on the vegetation and to keep to the paths that have been laid out rather than the top of the dune.

Getting there

Karasu Municipality states that the district is 48 kilometres from the provincial centre and 190 kilometres from Istanbul. The road running north from Adapazarı brings you straight to the district centre. As you will visit several points along the coast during the day, travelling by car is the most comfortable; check current schedules for buses within the district and from the provincial centre before setting out. The distances between the stops are short, but the floodplain forest lies further away, west of the district centre.

A beach on the sand

Start the day on the beach. The Sakarya Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism describes Karasu Beach as one of the longest beaches in Turkey and writes that the shore runs for about 20 kilometres. According to the directorate's page, two separate beaches here fly the Blue Flag and the beach is open to the public. Karasu Municipality describes the shore as a shining strand resembling gold dust and also mentions the local belief that the fine grained sand is good for rheumatic complaints. This is a folk belief, so do not read it as medical advice.

There are paths laid out along the beach for walking and cycling. The width of the sand makes it easy to see the low dune ridges behind the shoreline. Watching the ripples left by the wind on the sand in the morning while the wind is calm, and the lengthening shadows in the late afternoon, is the easiest way to understand how a dune takes shape. In summer the beach gets crowded; those who want to see the dunes in peace should choose spring and autumn.

Küçükboğaz, a lagoon closed by sand

Head east from the beach. According to Karasu Municipality, Lake Küçükboğaz lies about 5 kilometres east of the district centre and covers 50 hectares. The most interesting thing about the lake is that it is a lagoon. The provincial directorate defines a lagoon as a lake separated from the sea by a coastal bar or a barrier and writes that the lake's surroundings are covered with pines.

Turkish Wikipedia explains that the waters of the Kırmancı, Beydağ, Kavakgöl, Lömek and Topçu streams drain into the lake and that the lake's connection to the sea sometimes closes and sometimes opens. The sand piled up by the waves that rise when a storm blows on the Black Sea stops the lake water from flowing into the sea. When the overflowing water damages the surrounding fields, the villagers dig a new mouth through the sand. In the municipality's account, the excess water that rises with winter rainfall is channelled into the sea through grooves cut in the barrier, and the lake and sea then join. In other words, here you can see with your own eyes how the sand barrier you saw on the beach closes off a lake.

Sit for a while on the lake shore and look at the difference between the two waters. On one side the choppy Black Sea, on the other a calm and clear lake, with only a strip of sand between them. The provincial directorate notes that angling is done on the lake and that rudd, carp and freshwater mullet are found there. Wikipedia also notes that the lake is one of the places where migratory birds stay in winter. Its surroundings are used as a picnic area; if you have a picnic, take your rubbish back with you.

Where the river meets the sea

Around midday cross to the other side of the district centre, to Yenimahalle. Karasu Municipality writes that Yeni Mahalle is 5 kilometres from the district centre. According to the provincial directorate, the Sakarya River, which rises in Eskişehir, completes its 824 kilometre course here, flowing into the Black Sea within the bounds of Yenimahalle. The Metropolitan Municipality's brochure gives the river's length within the province as 159.5 kilometres.

A walking path of about one kilometre has been paved from the entrance of the neighbourhood to the sea. Along the way you see wooden fishing boats moored on the riverbank and centuries old plane trees. Turkish Wikipedia writes that, as there was no harbour until recently, the river mouth was used as a natural shelter for fishing boats. According to the Metropolitan Municipality's brochure, the recreation area on the shore was renewed in September 2025, with a cycle path, seating areas and sections laid out for anglers added.

What to look at here is the meeting of river water and sea water. The municipality describes watching the waves receive the river, especially in winter, as a distinct experience. The river mouth also carries the story of a lost fish. Wikipedia writes that efforts are being made to revive the sturgeon, which was once caught in abundance at the Sakarya mouth and appears on the district municipality's emblem, and that young fish have been released into the river since 2000. If you want to wait for the sunset here, the end of the walking path gives the most open view.

In the forest of the longoz

The long stop of the day is the Acarlar floodplain forest to the west. Turkish Wikipedia writes that the forest lies between Karasu and Kaynarca, about 6 kilometres west of the Sakarya River, and about 26 kilometres from Karasu. The longoz is a typical coastal barrier lake formed behind the dunes. Wikipedia explains that the dunes between the lake and the Black Sea reach 20 to 25 metres in height and form ridges that reach 50 metres in places. The dunes near the shore still move with the wind, while further towards the forest they become stable.

Here the relationship between the sand you saw on the beach and the water of the forest becomes clear. The streams crossing an old coastal plain were gradually blocked by dunes, the hollow left behind filled with water and today's lake environment was formed. The lake's excess water reaches the Sakarya River to the east through the Okçu stream and from there the Black Sea. In other words, the longoz is the place where the sand barriers you saw in the morning and the river mouth you saw at midday are linked.

The provincial directorate writes that the floodplain forest covers an area of 1,562 hectares, that its depth reaches up to 1.5 metres and that the area is a first degree natural protected site. It is surrounded by ash forests, and in places the trees push into the marshy parts of the lake. According to the directorate about 2,300 plant species are found here; water violet, summer snowflake and water lilies of different colours are among them. The number of bird species varies between sources, with Karasu Municipality giving 180 and GoTürkiye 243 species. There is a walking path and viewing piers for visitors. The area is run by Sakarya Metropolitan Municipality; check the entry conditions and the status of boat tours from official sources before you go.

Suggested walk

Start early in the morning with a half hour walk on Karasu beach looking at the dunes. Then move on to Lake Küçükboğaz to the east and see the strip of sand separating the lake from the sea. Around midday return to Yenimahalle and complete the walking path at the river mouth. Keep the afternoon for the Acarlar floodplain forest to the west; as the light gets lower, the channels with water lilies are easier to see. If you want to see the sunset, you can return to the river mouth in the late afternoon.

Season and time

In the floodplain forest the water lilies and water plants bloom as spring turns to summer; the Metropolitan Municipality's brochure also writes that the forest offers a visual feast especially in the spring months. Winter is a good season for watching migratory birds at Küçükboğaz and the waves receiving the river at the river mouth. In summer the beach is crowded, so those who want to see the dunes and lakes more quietly should choose the early morning hours. Karasu receives rain in every season, so it is wise to take a raincoat with you.

Practical notes

  • The dunes are a sensitive habitat, so do not step on the vegetation and use the paths that have been laid out.
  • Check current information on the entry conditions of the floodplain forest, boat tours and the state of the piers from official sources.
  • In mosquito season, carry repellent for the forest and lake shores.
  • Swim only in safe, supervised areas, and beware of currents at the river mouth.

Sources

Location - Floodplain Forest, River Mouth and Dunes on the Karasu Coast

Trip Info
CityKarasu, Sakarya
TypeCultural
DateOctober 19, 2026
SourceRadar Editör
Radar TürkiyeAuthorRadar TürkiyeVisit SourceGet Directions