Belgrade Forest is a mixed deciduous
forest lying 15 kilometers north-west of Istanbul, Turkey. Geographically, the forest is located at the
easternmost point of the çatalca Peninsula. Forest terrain is divided between Sarıyer and Eyüp districts. There are seven historical aqueducts
which built in the different location. Those are kömürcü, büyük, ayvat, valide,
kirazlı and sultan mahmut bendi.
Belgrade forest was the most
important fresh water source for Istanbul, not only for ottoman period, but
also byzantine empire period. Belgrade forest started to became important
begining of the 16. Century. When 10. Ottoman sultan suleyman the magnificent
had returned from belgrade compaign in 1521, he had brought a large number of
serb prisoners and prisoners placed in the ayvat village which sited in the
belgrade forest to diffuse turkish culture in this area. When belgrade based
prisoners placed in the village came to be known as belgrade. In the sultan
suleıman period, the task of repairing and building aqueducts, weirs and pools
had given the architect sinan. atteiner aqueducts weirs and pools are a part of
this period.
After the proclamation of
republic in turkey, belgrade forest were protected. To take advantage from
belgrade forest picnic areas are built around dams and the forest began to
serve as reactional area in istanbul. Belgrade forest, still, a recreation
area, clean water supply and continues to serve a coppice.
When we entered the forest we asked the palce of the valide dam to the security and he directed us to the left(red) road. After we had been walking during 1.30 hours, we realized that there is not Valide dam. We went to Neşet Suyu because of security. Then we had hitchiked the entrance and walked again. Finally we found Valide Dam.
I think we were lucky, since the day we went is rainy. The sky covered with trees, like a giant dome. We can hear the sound of rain, perceive the smell of soil but we couldn't get wet, because of trees.
In belgrade forest there are seven Dam and they are very close to each other. One of them is Valide Sultan(Queen Mother) dam. Valide Sultan dam was completed in 1796 which is located on the Acı Elma Creek. So it was built for mother of III.Selim mihrişah Sultan, it was named Valide dam. There is a picnic area and children play ground in the Valide dam. According to us children layground looks ugly, not related with the nature because of its material. It could be maden of wood or plastic which looks like wood.
Valide dam has slope and because of rain it was very sliding. Also one part of dam there are no parapet. The environs of the dam is surrunded by wire. Maybe the reason of the wire is the safety of people or protecting water against getting dirty is could be a main reason.
