Perşembe Plateau: The Meanders of Aybastı

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1. What is Perşembe Plateau?
2. How do you get to Perşembe Plateau?
3. When is the best time to visit Perşembe Plateau?
4. What is the history of Perşembe Plateau?
5. What is Perşembe Plateau famous for?
6. What can you do at Perşembe Plateau?
7. Frequently asked questions about Perşembe Plateau
8. What do the official records say about Perşembe Plateau?

What is Perşembe Plateau?

Perşembe Yaylası is a high meadow in Aybastı district, in the mountains behind the Ordu coast. Its fame comes from one view: a broad green valley floor where streams loop back and forth in tight, almost perfect meanders, framed by forest. Seen from the hill of Karga Tepesi, the curves of water look as if they were drawn by hand, and the provincial culture directorate now lists the area as “Perşembe Yaylası (Menderesler)”, the meanders.

It is also one of the most important yaylas of Ordu. The 2002 inventory notes that it was a significant fair ground (panayır), that its water and air were valued for health, and that visitors came from neighbouring provinces.

How do you get to Perşembe Plateau?

Perşembe Yaylası is reached by road from the coast via Aybastı, inland from Fatsa. The drive climbs through hazelnut orchards and forest. A car is the practical option; in summer there are minibuses from Aybastı and the coastal towns, but services are limited.

Note that the yayla has nothing to do with the coastal town of Perşembe, west of Ordu city: the names are the same (perşembe means Thursday) but the places are far apart. The nearest airports are Ordu-Giresun Airport, east of Ordu city, and Samsun Çarşamba Airport to the west.

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When is the best time to visit Perşembe Plateau?

June to September, when the meadows are green and the yayla is in use. July is the month of the Perşembe Yaylası festival, listed in the 2002 inventory as running through the month. Early morning often brings mist lying in the valley, which lifts to reveal the meanders. In winter the area is under snow.

What is the history of Perşembe Plateau?

Like other yaylas of the region, Perşembe was a summer pasture where families from the lower villages brought their animals, and a meeting place for trade; the inventory describes it as an important fair ground. On 13 August 1991 the Council of Ministers declared Aybastı Perşembe Yaylası a Tourism Centre, one of six yaylas in Ordu given that status under the Ministry’s Yayla Tourism Project begun in 1990, with plans for around 200 beds.

That project aimed to bring yaylas into tourism while controlling building, since many pastures were under pressure from new construction.

What is Perşembe Plateau famous for?

• The meanders of its streams across the valley floor, best seen from Karga Tepesi.
• The summer festival and fair, which draws visitors from across the region.
• Clean air and water, long valued by visitors.

What can you do at Perşembe Plateau?

Climb Karga Tepesi. The inventory singles out Karga Tepesi (Crow Hill) as one of the places on the yayla you should see; from the slopes the meanders spread out below.

Walk the valley. Paths follow the streams across the meadows and up into the surrounding forest.

Join the festival. In July the yayla fills with families, music, horon dancing and stalls.

Eat yayla food. Look for fresh butter, cheese, corn bread and the black cabbage dishes of the Ordu kitchen.

Visit other yaylas. The inventory notes road links from Perşembe to Turnalık and Korgan yaylas. Turnalık, one of the oldest and largest yaylas of the region, has remains of fire-pits and ironworking attributed to the Chalybes. Çambaşı, in Kabadüz district, is the highest yayla in the province.

Practical tips. Bring warm clothes even in summer, and rain gear. Facilities are limited outside July and August, so plan food and fuel.

Other yaylas of Ordu. If you have more time, the 2002 inventory describes two more worth the drive. Çambaşı, 61 km south of the city at 1,850 m, is one of the most important yaylas of the Black Sea region, a summer settlement of some 500 houses with shops and restaurants; it now has a ski centre for winter. Keyfalan, south-east of Mesudiye and 20 km from that town, lies on the grassy slopes of Kara Tepe (2,180 m) among pine forest, with three main encampments (oba), and much of the surrounding forest is protected as a game reserve.

Frequently asked questions about Perşembe Plateau

What do the official records say about Perşembe Plateau?

It is one of the important yaylas of Aybastı district and of the province. This yayla, 1,350 m above sea level, is also an important fair ground. Many visitors come from neighbouring provinces to the yayla, whose water and air are extremely attractive for human health. Karga Tepesi is one of the places on the yayla that must be seen. The foot of the hill presents an elegant sight with the meanders formed by the streams.

The most active yayla of the area is Turnalık, one of the oldest yaylas of the region. In the Yalman area within its borders there are fire temples from the time of the Chalybes, who lived here before Christ, and remains showing that iron ore was worked. The yayla is rich in forest and pasture, and it has road links with Perşembe Yayla, Korgan Yayla and many villages. (Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Ordu Provincial Tourism Inventory, 2002)