The Area declared as Mihrabat Nature Park has got its name as “Mihrabat Grove” from the Mihrabat Summerhouse of Ibrahim Pasha of Nevsehir built during the course of his grand viziership. It was established by one of the Ottoman Sultans called Mahmut the First, and presented by Necibe Hanim who was the wife of Sadullah Pasha- ambassador of Sultan Abdulhamit Han in Berlin to Rukiye Hanim – the daughter of Abbas Halim Pasha from Egypt as a gift for seeing the bride’s face. Mihrabat Grove located in Kanlica at a hill overlooking the Bosphorus has been witnessing various charms on Bosphorus of Istanbul and historical events over many years. The Nature Park which had been taken part in the important excursion spots in the course of the Ottoman era, occupies 20 hectares.
THE ACTIVITIES THAT CAN BE DONE WITHIN THE PARK AREA
There are security spots at the entrance and exit of the Nature Park, restaurant and food & refreshment kiosk, a green area allocated for weddings, partying and organizations in a place overlooking the Bosphorus, children playground in the grove and a field for events called “One Day in Nature” where schools can organize activities, parking areas, fountains, small mosque and toilets, paths for walking and running, equipments for physical-fitness exercise, and terraces for watching scenery, pergolas and amphitheater field. Inside the Nature Park you may witness the magnificence of the stone pines of Bosphorus in Istanbul, which are most commonly observed and reveal an aesthetic even if they are seen from long distances. You can enjoy Judas trees that paint Bosphorus of Istanbul pink with the magnificent blooming during the spring months. You can take a walk through the smells of bay trees and lindens, and watch and be enchanted by the Bosphorus of Istanbul from the watch terraces. Inside the Nature Park there are parks where children can recreate theirselves, and places where they can organize nature activities and tournaments. There are also basketball and football fields available in the area where one-day school trips can be organized. You may take a peaceful nature trip in the areas reserved for walking, and rest and dine in the restaurant located at the entrance to the grove. Besides there is also an area located at a spot overlooking the Bosphorus and suitable for the organization of country-wedding.
FLORA
Flora of the Nature Park comprises of mostly broad-leaved trees, from place to place coniferous trees and scale-leaved trees, shrubs and bushes, covering and clinging plants. Following plant species are observed, such broad-leaved trees as European Hombeam (Carpinus betulus), Sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa), Oriental Plane (Platanus orientalis), Linden (Tilia argentea), Kermes oak (Quercus coccifera), Sessile Oak (Quercus petraea), Norway Maple (Acer platanoides), Red-bud Maple (Acer trautvetteri), Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica), Mediterranean Hackberry (Celtis australis), Southern Catalpa (Catalpa bignonioides), Judas Tree(Cercis siliquastrum), European Ash (Fraxinus excelsior), Silver Wattle (Acacia dealbata), Cherry Plum (Prunus cerasifera), Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora); such coniferous trees as Italian Umbrella Pine (Pinus pinea), Himalayan Cedar (Cedrusdeodora), Syrian Juniper (Juniperus drupacea); such scale-leaved trees as Mediterranean cypress (Cupressus sempervirens), Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata), Oriental Arborvitae (Thuja orientalis), Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani), Crimean Juniper (Juniperus excelsa), such plants in the form of shrub and bush as Kilmarnock Willow (Salix caprea pendula), Mediterranean Bay Tree (Laurus nobilis), Red Robin (Photinia serrulata), Chinese Snowball Tree (Viburnumtinus), Strawberry Tree (Arbutus unedo), Sweet Mock Orange (Philadelphuscoronarius), Common Holly (Ilex aquifolium), Salt Cedar (Tamarix spp.), Spanish Broom (Spartium junceum), Scarlet Firethorn (Pyracantha coccinea), Wild Blackberries (Rubus spp.), Japanese Mock-orange (Pittosporumtobira), Butcher’s Broom (Ruscus aculeatus), Tree Heather (Erica arborea), Japanese Privet (Ligustrumjaponicum), Green Olive Tree (Phlyra latifolia), Rose Hips (Rosacanina), Common Medlar (Mespilus germanica), Crimean Juniper (Juniperus excelsa); such clinging plants as European Ivy (Hedera helix); such covering plants at some slopes as Caucasian Stonecrop (Sedum hispannicum and Sedum spurium); such shrubs and bushes in the area allocated for the cafeteria as Rose Bay (Nerium oleander), Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), such small-leaved plants as Heavenly Bamboo (Nandina domestica), European Privet (Ligustrum vulgare) and European Box (Buxus sempervirens).
FAUNA
Fauna of the area comprises of such mammalian species as Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris), White-Breasted Hedgehog (Erinaceus concolor), European Mole (Talpa europaea Linnaeus)in addition to such bird species as Dunnock (Prunella modularis), Black-Crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus), Rock Dove (Columba livia), Euroasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto), Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus), European Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis), Common Quail (Coturnix coturnix), European Goldfinch (Carduelis Carduelis), Common Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs), Euroasian Siskin (Carduelis spinus), Magpie (Pica pica), House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), Euroasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius), Caspian Gull (Larus cachinnans), Greater White-Fronted Goose (Anser albifrons), European Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur), Common Barn Owl (Tyto alba), Little Owl (Athene noctua), Euroasian Night Jar (Caprimulgus europaeus) and European Bee-Eater (Merops apiaster). There are such reptilians as Spur-thighed Tortoise (Testudo graeca) and Istanbul Lizard (Podarcis sicula).
