Karboğazı

Karboğazu Monument, Mersin Province, Turkey

Karboğazı is a mountain pass in Mersin Province, Turkey.

The pass at 37°18′N 34°43′E / 37.300°N 34.717°E / 37.300; 34.717 is in the rural area of Tarsus ilçe (district). It is to the north of Gülek and 6 km (3.7 mi) north west of the Turkish state highway . Its distance to Tarsus is 60 km (37 mi) and to Mersin is 87 km (54 mi).^[1]

Karboğazı means literally "snow-pass". It is situated in a high valley around a tributary of Berdan River in the Taurus Mountains. The upper reaches of the valley are usually snow-covered. The location was officially included in the Tourism centers of Mersin Province. With a peak at 3,524 m (11,562 ft), the area will be developed as a ski resort.^[2] Just to the south of the snow covered pass, there is a plateau, which is a popular picnic area encircled by pine forests.

However, Karboğazı is more than a touristic center. This pass was the scene of one of the critical fights during the Turkish War of Independence on 27–28 May 1920, called the Karboğazı ambush.^[3] A memorial was erected in the picnic area to commemorate the event.

References