Sarıkum Nature Reserve: Lake, Dunes and Forest by the Sea

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

What is Sarıkum Nature Reserve?

Sarıkum is a small nature reserve on the coast west of Sinop where several habitats meet in a very short distance: open sea, a long sandy beach, dunes, a lake fringed with reeds, wetland and forest. Its name means “yellow sand”, after the colour of the beach.

The 2002 inventory explains what makes it special: sea, coast, sand, lake, wetland and forest ecosystems side by side; many water birds and birds of prey; endangered species such as roe deer, lynx, great bustard and swan; feral horses living in the area; a typical and rare example of mixed beech, hornbeam and oak forest; and a fine, pure stand of ash forest.

It is a place for walking and birdwatching rather than for facilities. Bring water and binoculars.

How do you get to Sarıkum Nature Reserve?

Sarıkum is about 17 km west of Sinop on the Sinop–Istanbul highway (D010), which runs along its edge, so it is about 20 minutes by car. It fits easily into a day with Hamsilos and Akliman, which are on the way. Without a car, a taxi from Sinop is the simplest option.

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When is the best time to visit Sarıkum Nature Reserve?

The area is good for birding all year round, but the spring and autumn migration periods and winter are the best times: the reserve lies on a migration route, and birds use it as a resting place. For walking and swimming, June to September is pleasant. Early morning is best for birds and for the light over the lake.

What is the history of Sarıkum Nature Reserve?

The forestry authorities declared Sarıkum a Nature Conservation Area to protect its rare mix of habitats. The protected area covers 78.5 hectares in Abalı village, at the 17th kilometre of the Sinop–Istanbul highway, according to the inventory.

Nearby Abalı village, at the 15th kilometre of the Sinop–İnceburun road, was registered as a forest recreation area by the National Parks directorate in 1994. The inventory describes its 30 hectares as flat grassland covered with hornbeam and oak, used by people from Sinop for weekend picnics.

Today Sarıkum is part of the wider Sinop Peninsula, recognised by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area.

What is Sarıkum Nature Reserve famous for?

• Birds. Ducks, geese, herons, swans and birds of prey. Birdwatching guides mention species such as the white-headed duck, red-throated diver and red-breasted flycatcher.
• Feral horses that graze around the lake and dunes.
• The yellow-sand beach that gives the reserve its name.
• Forest. Mixed beech, hornbeam and oak, and a pure ash wood.

What can you do at Sarıkum Nature Reserve?

Walk around the lake. A circular route of about 8.5 km on flat ground goes around the reserve, with an easy grade and a bird hide.

Birdwatch. A telescope or good binoculars help. The lake and reeds hold water birds, and the forest edge holds woodpeckers and flycatchers.

Walk the beach and dunes. The long beach of fine sand is quiet compared with the town beaches.

Continue to İnceburun. From the Sarıkum area, a side road leads north towards İnceburun, the northernmost point of Anatolia, where a lighthouse stands on the cape. On the way back to the city, the Abalı forest recreation area is a shady place for a picnic, and Akliman’s beach is a good final swim before sunset.

Ride or hike in the forest. The inventory lists the forest areas of Akliman, Hamsilos, Abalı and Sarıkum as suitable for hiking and horse riding.

Visiting tips. There are few facilities inside the reserve, so bring water, food and sun protection, and in summer insect repellent for the lakeside. Wear shoes that cope with sand and damp ground. Please stay on the paths, keep away from the horses and nesting areas, and take your litter home. A visit fits well into a half-day loop from Sinop: Akliman and Hamsilos in the morning, Sarıkum in the afternoon, and back to the city for dinner by the harbour.

Frequently asked questions about Sarıkum Nature Reserve

What do the official records say about Sarıkum Nature Reserve?

In the area, 21 km from the city centre, sea, forest and lake are found together. The area, which also has various fish and game animals, has been declared a Nature Conservation Area by the General Directorate of Forestry. Besides the natural vegetation, the main animal species seen in the area include mammals such as roe deer, wild boar, jackal, fox, lynx, weasel and feral horses, as well as many species of ducks and geese, herons, and birds such as swan, great bustard and woodcock, together with various reptiles, frogs and fish such as grey mullet. The area is also used by birds as a resting place during the migration season.

The site, which has a wide and long beach formed of fine-grained sand by the sea, takes its name from the colour of its sand. (Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Sinop Provincial Tourism Inventory, 2002)