Turkey’s historic landmarks to go dark for Earth Hour

ISTANBUL - Anadolu Agency

REUTERS photo

Iconic landmarks across Turkey, including the ancient city of Ephesus, Selimiye Mosque in the northwestern province of Edirne and Cappadocia’s famous “Fairy Chimneys,” will switch off their lights for the first time to support “Earth Hour.”

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) event – now in its tenth year – aims to raise awareness of climate change by turning out lights for one hour.      
  
Ephesus, the Selimiye Mosque and the Fairy Chimneys have all joined UNESCO’s World Heritage list for this year’s event.        

In Istanbul, the Bosphorus Bridge, the Topkapı and Dolmabahçe palaces, the Hagia Sophia Museum and Galata Tower will also go dark to remind people about the need for action on the climate.    
   
“We attach particular importance to these monuments, which have witnessed history, taking part in this movement,” Tolga Bastak, general director of WWF-Turkey, said.        

“We call on everyone to think of the future of our planet for one hour when the lights will be turned off,” he said.        

The celebration will be held on March 19, between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. local time (6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. GMT).