Foraging routes · Marmara
Strandzha (Yıldız) Mountains
The forested range running from the Bulgarian border towards Istanbul along Thrace's Black Sea coast.
- records
- 149
- species
- 72
- provinces
- Kırklareli, Istanbul
The Strandzha massif (Turkish: Yıldız Dağları or Istranca Dağları) runs parallel to the Black Sea coast of Thrace, from Bulgaria towards Istanbul, for about 150 km. Its highest peak, Mount Mahya (Mahya Dağı, about 1,031 m), is in Kırklareli province, and the Turkish part covers some 197,000 hectares.
The highest section lies between Kırklareli and Demirköy. Turkish Wikipedia notes that some former beech forest was cut and replanted with Turkish red pine, so along the route broadleaf woodland and pine plantations sit side by side.
Why this route?
After Istanbul, this is the area with the most macrofungi records in the Marmara region. The box covers northern Kırklareli and Istanbul’s north-western Black Sea side; the list and monthly chart are calculated from the real records inside it.
Getting there
The high part of the range lies between the city of Kırklareli and the district town of Demirköy. Near the Bulgarian border, follow the border-zone signs.
Rules and safety
Parts of the area may be protected; check the status of the exact place you plan to visit with the local forestry office.