Nature's Palette-Yedigöller

With its countless nuances of green as far as the eye reaches. Yedigöller (Seven Lakes) National Park looks like natures generous gift to the world. Beautiful in all seasons. Especially in autumn Yedigöller presents visitors with a visual treat.

You really ought to go to Yedigöller National Park in autumn to listen to the song of the colors. There a feast of yellow, brown, black, scarlet and green is awaiting you. Set out after midnight so that you can greet the morning on the road between Bolu and the lakes. In Bolu you turn off for the 42 km stretch to Yedigöller; if it has rained or snowed the past few days the road may preset a challenge to your car. But if it is a fine day, the sun will rise from the night's embrace and snow you dawn in its duvet. This is where-if someone else is driving-you should get out of the car and send it on. Perhaps this will be one of the best decisions of your life, because the light in Yedigöller National Park sings golden songs in autumn. A walk starting ten km ahead of the lakes will doubtlessly tire you, but the exuberance of nature and happiness dismantled by the cities will fill you again. Yedigöller's magnificent autumn colour feast begins on this road. The blanket of mist covering the white wllows, hawthorns, larches, beeches, mountain ashes and firs sometimes follows you from afar until noon. Don't be disappointed if the trees at the start of the road have lost their leaves. The further you come down between the sheltering hills you will see how the trees have turned into a daytime torchlight procession.

A silent paradise

You should climb to Kapankaya before going to the lakes, there is a rather small sign by the roadside. Kapankaya is reached by mounting some wooden steps, followed by a small path; once at the top the view will make you gasp in wonder. The silent paradise created by the hundreds of thousands of trees standing together side by side, seems to begin from the tips of your toes and you have to get over your initial astonishment to catch a glimpse of the lakes hidden among them. Give yourself at least half an hour on Kapankaya and savour the feeling of the clouds dispersing from your heart. This in itself is reason enough to go to Yedigöller. The next stop after Kapankaya is the monumental pine tree that almost has reached the ripe old age of six hundred years. A sign on the right side of the road indicates the narrow path leading to it. If you climb up you will discover a more than thirty metre tall and greyish tree with its roots intertwined in the soil: an incredible testimony to life. Look at it tenderly and touch it. It will know you. In fact through all of its beauty, natural fabric and whole entity Yedigöller National Park conveys to us what we are about to lose and it makes us smart. On the road leading to the lakes is a wooden balcony immediately to the left of the gravel-road offering a spectacular perspective view. If you look down from it in the season when red leaves dominate the colour scheme, you get the sansation that a huge fire is raging below. I believe that if Yedigöller had a voice, in autumn it would sound like burning violin.

A sea of leaves

If you continue to follow the road that snakes downwards you will reach the lakes a few kilometres further on. Having passed the guard cabins belonging to the Ministry of Forests, you will see Incegöl on your left. Hiding behind this lake, which to a photographer presents bewitching images of reflections, is Sazlıgöl. A lovely path goes around the lake and here photo enthusiasts must be vigilant during the mushroom season. The heaps of leaves, the soft light and the small pool with the dancing colours make for good shots. You can photograph the backlighted leaves by the next lake, Nazlıgöl, and the waterfall beside Küçükgöl (Little lake) that comes immediately after it. This is a sea of leaves in autumn. You may take a break in the picnic areas designated by the Ministry of Forests and eat your packed lunch. Apart from a small trout farm in the vicinity of Yedigöller, there is nowhere to obtain food. This is why, not to go hungry, you have to be prepared.

The miracle of reflections

After walking around Deringöl (Deep Lake) you reach Büyükgöl where the light comes down fo a drink of water; both these lakes are masterpieces of reflection. An impressionist painter setting up his canvas on the banks of a lake here trying to play with colours would never be able to compete with the reflections on the lakes in Yedigöller National Park. Concede to be touring seven wonders of the world and finish your exploration by Seringöl (Cool Lake). Your place for a rest is even ready: The wooden pier built over Büyük Göl (Big Lake) is awaiting you. In the evening hours when the lake gathers the light beams that marble its surface, you might see the jumping trout while you begin to reflect on how to preserve the beautiful nature that is still around you. Yedigöller National Park is not just appealing in autumn. It generously displays its own special grandeur both for eye and mind durig the other seasons as well. In spring birds come to this region that is ideal for them and fill the forest with their song. Yedigöller National Park is like a textbook for tree scientists. However, between December and April, rain and snow ruins the non-surfaced road, making it impassable. If you still should decide make an attempt in a four-by-fouri it would be a good idea to forewarn villagers who could assist with a tractor, or the forest guards. For campers Yedigöller National Park is perfect, turning nights into fairy-tales. When the Milky Way is on display its reflection on the lake leaves you sparkling inside. You will be delighted to be in a corner of such a gorgeous picture of nature.

by Akgün Akova