Concrete steps built in ‘paradise’

ERZURUM - Doğan News Agency

Concrete staircases have been built on the eastern face of the Kaçkar Mountains. DHA photo

The eastern province of Erzurum’s İspir Municipality has constructed controversial concrete steps to reach Yedigöller, regarded as a “hidden paradise.” Yedigöller is 30 kilometers away from the town of İspir and 3,300 meters above sea level in the Kaçkar Mountains.

The steps, built on the eastern face of the Kaçkar Mountains, stirred reactions because of the damage to the natural environment.

The Istanbul-based İspir and Pazaryolu Associations Union organized a festival from Aug. 23 to 25 in the İspir and Pazaryolu area of the region. The steps were built to ease transportation on the second day of the festival.

The steps were photographed by Bülent Erkan, who is known as an environmentalist, and he then made a documentary in the region. “It is unfair to Yedigöller,” Erkan said.

Speaking about the development, İspir Mayor Osman Çakır said the one-meter wide and 90-meter long steps had been built one kilometer away from Yedigöller, and were removed after the end of the festival.
“It is not a protected environment. We were planning to construct a road here for the festival but because of locals’ reactions, we built a staircase. We made it easy for tourists to reach Yedigöller,” Çakır said.