| 100th Anniversary (Gümüşkum) Nature Park | |
|---|---|
| 100. Yıl (Gümüşkum) Tabiat Parkı | |
 A sea turtle spawning place in Gümüşkum | |
  100th Anniversary (Gümşkum) NP Location of the nature park in Turkey | |
| Location | Mezitli,Mersin, Turkey |
| Coordinates | 36°43′15″N34°29′43″E / 36.72083°N 34.49528°E /36.72083; 34.49528 |
| Area | 22.98 ha (56.8 acres) |
| Established | November 7, 2011; 14 years ago (2011-11-07) |
| Governing body | Directorate-General of Nature Protection and National Parks Ministry of Environment and Forest |
100th Anniversary (Gümüşkum) Nature Park (Turkish:100. Yıl (Gümüşkum) Tabiat Parkı) is a coastalnature park inMersin, Turkey.
The park at36°43′15″N34°29′43″E / 36.72083°N 34.49528°E /36.72083; 34.49528 is inDavultepe town, which merged to Mersin urban fabric. It is located on theMediterranean Sea coast covering an area of 22.98 hectares (56.8 acres). It is on the Mersin-Silifke highway
D.400 12 km (7.5 mi) southwest of Mersin. In 1977, the grove at the Mediterranean Sea side was declared a recreation area. On November 7, 2011, the area was declared a nature park by theMinistry of Environment and Forest.[1][2][3] However the ministry decided to end its status as a nature park and there is a heated discussion on its future status[4]
It has a 1.8 km (1.1 mi) long sandy beach.[3] "Gümüşkum" means literally "Silver sand". The nature park offers outdoor recreational activities for visitors on a daily basis such ashiking,swimming andpicnicing.Camping and renting ofcottages orbungalows are also available.[1]
The trees in the park are Turkish pine (Pinus brutia) andeucalyptus. Theendemic plant sea daffodil (Pancratium maritimum) is endangered.[2] A section of the sandy beach in the nature park is used bygreen sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) andloggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) forovulation.[2][3][5] A treatment and rehabilitation center for the sea turtles is situated inside the nature park.[1]
The status of the protected area as "nature park" was revoked on July 14, 2015.[2] It was decided to decrease its status to "recreation area of grade A". Upon protests of the residents of Mersin to protect and conserve the sea turtles, the Ministry cancelled its decision within about one month, and the status of the protected area remained unchanged.[6][7]
