Soğuksu National Park, National park in Kızılcahamam district, Ankara Province, Turkey
Soğuksu National Park is a protected natural area in the Kızılcahamam district of Ankara Province in Turkey. The park covers forests of yellow pine, fir, and oak, with rocky volcanic terrain, small streams, and natural springs running through its hills and valleys.
The park was established in 1959, making it the second national park in Turkey. Its boundaries were expanded in 1997 to bring more forest and volcanic terrain under protection.
The park is one of two designated Important Bird Areas in the Ankara region, and bird watchers often gather at open clearings to spot griffon vultures and eastern imperial eagles soaring above the tree line. The local name Soğuksu means "cold water" in Turkish, a reference to the cool springs that still flow through the park and give it a distinct character.
The park is easy to reach by car from central Ankara, with Kızılcahamam about an hour away. Part of the park is open to visitors for walking and picnicking, while other sections are reserved for nature conservation, so it is worth checking the signs at the entrance before heading in.
The northern section of the park contains fossilized tree trunks that are around 15 million years old, left behind from a time when the region was covered by dense tropical forest. These fossils can still be seen in place, giving visitors a direct look at how different this landscape once was.
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