Ankara's Lakeside Escape - Kurtboğazı Barajı

“Ankara’da Deniz yok” (There’s no sea in Ankara) is a common refrain you hear from Turkey’s second city’s army of detractors (often from Izmir). While there is more to a city than its aquatic features, there’s something to the critique. Istanbul has its Bosphorus, Izmir its bay and even Eskisehir its river to give their residents a calming respite from the dense human settlements around them.

Fortunately, one doesn’t need to go far to reach a large body of water where you can unwind. Kurt Boğazı Barajı Reservoir is located just 35 miles north of Ankara. Though man-made Kurt Boğazı is a beautiful and expansive lake surrounded by one side to a large park with a small network of walking trails, and to the other with farmland.

The park is well maintained for recreational use with public grills, gazebos and park benches. It makes a great place to picnic or barbecue and spend an afternoon outside, or to explore the footpaths that run down to the water and around the perimeter.

No it’s not exactly the Bosphorus or the Mediterranean of course, but

its views are impressive in their own right. Central Anatolian big skies and a shocking amount of water and natural greenery, just an hour from Turkey’s brown-hued capital.

TRANSPORTATION: Unfortunately the easiest way to arrive is by car. From Kızılay, it takes about an hour to reach by car. Take Istanbul Yolu high way and follow it north, through Kazan center until you reach the park entrance. It can still be reached with public transportation, but takes about a 45 minute walk, or willingness to hitchhike, and flexibility with time. The 527 bus line which connects Kızılcahamam with Ankara passes by the entrance to the park but unfortunately does not have a stop directly at the entrance. After the park entrance, get off at the next stop, stop number 66, and backtrack until you reach a park entrance, 40-60 minutes. Alternatively you can take the 502 bus line to its last stop in Kazan, and walk north an additional 45 minutes.