Vegetation at Uludag - four steps of height
The protected area of the National Park covers all the southern parts of the Uludag Mountains. The vegetation of this zone can be split into 4 different sections from sea level to 2500 metres in height. Between sea level and about 500 metres we find the Mediterranean zone where you will find lavender bushes, strawberry bushes and stone oak trees. Between 600 and 1200 metres, we find the upper Mediterranean zone with hazelnut bushes, lime trees, beech and oak. Between 900 and 1800 metres we find the mountain zone with pine trees like larch and fir. Above 1800 metres we get into the zone of the large evergreens of the sub-alpine zone were there is also the National Park ski resort.
The road inside the National Park goes through a zone of lavender and juniper bushes and then along small rivers passing some waterfalls through the different zones of the forest. In the pine trees you will find great spotted woodpeckers, sub-alpine warblers and various raptors. The thick forest of conifers provides living space for many different animal species. There are red deer, wild pigs and sometimes bears and wolves. During the spring small orchids and sweet-smelling hyacinths show their flowers. Countless species of insects live in the National Park, many of them only found in this part of Turkey and completely unknown in Europe. During the summer you can see them in beautiful natural surroundings.