High above Istanbul rises Alem Dağı. It is the second highest point in the city. Are you ready to discover its secrets?
Alem Dağı stands at 442 meters. This makes it a prominent landmark on Istanbul’s Anatolian side. It is within the Çekmeköy district. The peak offers stunning views and a peaceful escape.
Geologically, Alem Dağı is quite old. Its rocks date back to the Paleozoic Era. Specifically, they are from the Silurian and Devonian periods. This means these rocks are hundreds of millions of years old. They consist of arkoses, quartzites, and shales. The layers have folded east to west. This folding likely occurred during the Caledonian Orogeny. That was a mountain-building event 435 to 395 million years ago.
Alem Dağı is covered with a fascinating forest. It is a popular spot for picnics and recreation. Interestingly, Alem Dağı marks a boundary. It divides two distinct types of plant cover found in the Kocaeli Peninsula. The north-facing slopes are part of a humid forest area. The south-facing slopes feature dry forests.
Streams from Alem Dağı feed Göksu and Küçüksu. These streams once created recreation areas. People enjoyed boating and the countryside. In the past, Murad IV had rose gardens and pavilions built near Göksu. A watermill provided water for locals. Evliya Çelebi described gardens with kitchens, fountains and statues. People picnicked on the grass and rowed boats. Red clay was used to make pots.
İnciciyan noted that long, tasty eggplants grew around Göksu. Potters made large pots and an imperial watermill ground flour for the palace. Küçüksu was a long, level ground by the seaside. Murad IV named Göksu Silver Cypress. Selim III built a fountain at Küçüksu in memory of his mother in 1806. Abdülmecid built a palace nearby in 1857. Trips to Göksu stream were popular until about 1900. People living on the Bosphorus went there by boat.
Alem Dağı offers both natural beauty and geological history. It is a place where you can appreciate Istanbul’s diverse landscape. As we conclude our visit, remember the ancient rocks. Remember the dividing forests of Alem Dağı.