Nemrut Caldera hosts 8th traditional 30-kilometer crater hike

Nature enthusiasts and activists recently completed the 8th traditional crater hike within the Nemrut Caldera National Park in the Tatvan district of Bitlis. An 11-person team ascended to the summit of Mount Nemrut, approximately 2,800 meters above sea level, to traverse a 30-kilometer route spanning the Tatvan, Güroymak, and Ahlat districts.

The hike, which offered views of both Nemrut Crater Lake and Lake Van, was organized through a collaboration between the Nemrut Geopark Association, the Tatvan Running Group, and the Van Lake Activists Association. Participants aimed to complete the circuit in roughly 12 hours.

Following the recent designation of the caldera as a national park, organizers emphasized the need for increased investment and tourism development while prioritizing environmental protection. Suat Vecel, President of the Nemrut Geopark Association, expressed the goal of having the area listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in the future.