Taurus Mountains facts for kids

Direktaş, a peak in the Ala Dağlar mountains, near the Seven Lakes.

The Taurus Mountains (called Toros Dağları in Turkish) are a long mountain range in Turkey. These mountains are very important because two major rivers, the Euphrates and Tigris, start here and flow into Syria and Iraq. The Manavgat River also begins on the southern side of these mountains.

Demirkazık Summit in Niğde Province, one of the highest peaks.

The Taurus Mountains stretch in a big curve from Lake Eğirdir in the west all the way to where the Euphrates and Tigris rivers begin in the east. Many of their peaks are very tall, reaching over 3,000 to 3,700 meters (10,000 to 12,000 feet) high! The highest point is the Demirkazık summit, which is 3,756 meters (12,322 feet) tall, found in a part of the range called Aladağlar. Another important peak is Medetsiz, standing at 3,524 meters (11,561 feet) in the Bolkar Dağları section.

These mountains act like a natural wall, separating the Mediterranean coast of southern Turkey from the central plateau (a high, flat area) of the country.

Amazing Landscapes and Caves

The Taurus Mountains are mostly made of limestone. Over time, water has slowly worn away this rock, creating unique landscapes called karstic areas. You can find beautiful waterfalls, rivers that flow underground, and some of the largest caves in Asia here. It's like nature's own sculpture park!

Ancient Discoveries

Near a place called Kestel, archaeologists found an ancient site from the Bronze Age. This is a very old period in history when people started using bronze. At Kestel, they found some of the earliest signs that people were tin mining there. Tin is a metal that was mixed with copper to make bronze.

Images for kids

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  Armenian refugees at Taurus Pass, an important mountain pass.

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  A relief map showing the Western Taurus Mountains.

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  A shepherd in the Amanus Mountains, near the Gulf of İskenderun and Antioch.

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  Termessos is an ancient city located in the western Taurus Mountains.

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  The city of Antalya with a beautiful sunset and mountains in the west.

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  The city of Alanya and the surrounding mountains.

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  The Tahtalı Mountains, part of the Taurus range.

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  The famous Cilician Gates near Gülek, Mersin Province.

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  A railway viaduct (bridge) in Adana Province, crossing a valley.

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  The Toros Mountains near the city of Mersin.

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  Karagöl, a lake near a mountain summit in the Taurus range.

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  The Castle district of Malatya and the Southeastern Taurus Mountains.

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  The Karakaya Dam, a large dam on the Euphrates River.

See also

In Spanish: Montes Tauro para niños