Report on Winter Tourism Centre of Konaklı Village, Erzurum

Transcription

1 NORTHEAST ANATOLIA DEVELOPMENT AGENCY Report on Winter Tourism Centre of Konaklı Village, Erzurum Tourism Reports No:2 Süleyman TOY Emine Bilgen EYMİRLİ Murat KARAPINAR Erzurum 2010

2 Northeast Anatolia Development Agency Report on Winter Tourism Centre of Konakl Village, Erzurum 1. Introduction The province of Erzurum is in the northeast of East Anatolia geographical region of Turkey (39º 55 N, 41 º 16 E) covering a surface area of square kilometre (Figure 1). The province is the largest in its region and the fourth largest in Turkey for surface area. Mean altitude of the city centre is 1859 m. Topography of the province is composed of mountains and deep and steep valley among them. Figure 1. Location of Erzurum in Turkey The city is among the areas where the harshest climatic characteristics are prevalent since it is away from marine effect. Long and cold winters and short and torrid summers are prevalent. Mean yearly temperature of the city centre is 5.4 ºC (according to long term meteorological measurements since 1929). Mean temperature of the coldest month is -8.6 ºC while that of the warmest is 19.6 ºC. The lowest temperature ever measured is ºC and the highest is 36.5 ºC. Mean number of snowy days is 50 and snow covered days is 114 days a year. According to census in 2000, population of the city centre was ; however, in 2007 census based on addresses, population has been determined to be

3 Access to Erzurum can be provided via railway, highway and airway. Airport in the city centre was renovated in 2006 and opened to international flights. The city centre is on the cross-section of the roads from north to south and west to east in Turkey. Economic activities in the province are generally based on livestock breeding and cultivation while in the city centre service sector is dominant. Tourism revenues have begun to increase in recent years with the increasing number of visitors to city (Table 1; Figure 2). Table 1. The number of tourists visiting Erzurum in recent years Years Domestic Foreign Total The number of tourists for years The number of tourists Domestic Foreign Total Years Figure 2. Changes in the number of tourists for years 2. Winter tourism centres in Erzurum Main factor in Erzurum city centre which provide possibilities for winter sports and tourism is Palandöken Mountain range extending 76 km from east to west and 25 km from south to north of the city centre. Elevation band of the mountain is 2200 to 3176 m. Palandöken Mountains, which are among the most important ski areas of Turkey for winter sports and tourism, are also an international winter tourism station. Ski facilities where Alp 2

4 discipline can be applied very comfortably, wide and long ski runways and quality of snow cover are attractive features of the area for sportsmen. Winter tourism centre in and around the centre of Erzurum city is the first in Turkey to have a master plan. The plan prepared by Turkish State Planning Organisation (Erzurum- Palandöken Winter Sports Centre and Tourism Master Plan) takes suitable areas for winter sports into consideration where rough terrain and harsh climate are dominant. Three locations are considered to be important in the Plan in Erzurum. These points are 1. Erzurum Bo az (present ski area at the outskirts of Ejder Hill) 2. Gez plateau and 3. Konakl Area. Erzurum Bo az Even though the area generally known as Palandöken ski centre, it includes Ejder hill and its close proximity in Palandöken Mountains. Ski centre in this area is 5 km away from the city centre. The area is covered with snow from October to May for nearly 150 days a year. The most suitable time for skiing activities is the period between December and May. Depth of snow cover is 2 to 3 m in normal season. Dusty snow is present throughout the season. Distance of the area from the city s airport is km. Gez Plateau Gez Plateau winter sports centre is between the elevations of 2200 and 2770 m and 7 km east of Erzurum city centre. There are three wide ridges leading to northeast in the area covering a surface area of 54 ha. Skiable area is between the elevations of 2150 m and 2750 m. Konakl Winter Tourism Centre Some characteristics of Konakl Winter Tourism Centre are presented in Table 2. Potentially 16 ski runs, 16 mechanical facilities and total skiable area of 288 ha are planned. The carrying capacity of the area is 14,000 skiers simultaneously. North and northwest orientation of the area is a favourable feature for snow quality. 3

5 Table 2. Some characteristics of Konakl area General Characteristics Elevation m Length of the season Snow cover 150 days 2-3 m Ski area (ha) 2390 Si type Mechanical facility line North and Alp Disciplines, Snowboard Existing: 16/ people/ h Skiers capacity Accommodation capacity Planned : people/day Existing : 2100 people Planned: 8850 people Characteristics of Konakl area are better than the other two areas for skiers. Topography of the area is very like Alps. Steep sides of a shallow valley are suitable for several mechanical facilities and runs. Figure 3. Location of Konakl area in Erzurum province Access to Konakl area is easy and comfortable thanks to city s airport and highway line. Youth and Sport general Directory has nearly completed the facilities to be used for 4

6 Erzurum UNIVERSIADE 2011 winter games in Konakl area. In this respect, some facility buildings, artificial lake, lifts, artificial snow making system and runs and access roads have nearly been completed. These facilities can serve all the investments in the future. An area of m² has been left in order for private sector to make investment for hotel construction in Konakl area. Allocation of this investment area is under the control of Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Allocations General Directory. Comparison of Palandöken Winter Tourism Area including Konakl with other centres in Turkey is presented in Table 3. Table 3. Comparison of Palandöken Winter Tourism Area including Konakl with other centres Centre Distance from city centre (km) Elevation (m) Ski season (day) Palandöken - Konaklı Erciyes Uludağ Kartalkaya Sarıkamış Facilities constructed in Konakl for UNIVERSIADE games Service building, skiing school, dining room and maintenance building The area will serve UNIVERSIADE 2011 games for Alp Discipline; Grand Slalom, Super G, Slalom and Super Combined races, therefore runways, service buildings, lifts, small lake, artificial snow making systems, access roads have nearly been completed (Figure 4). 5

7 Figure 4. Service building, skiing school, dining room and maintenance building Konakl Lifts Totally 6 lifts have been completed. Lift A, 1213 m, 3 DC Lift B, 2145 m, 4 DC Lift C, 1613 m, 4 DC Lift D, 1704 m, 4 DC Lift E, 800 m, 4 SC Lift G, 1410 m, 4 DC Figure 5. Lifts in Konakl 6

8 Artificial Snow Making Systems and Runs Land surfaces have been organised for runs. Artificial snow making systems have been completed. This system can make snow for an area of 62 ha (Figure 6). Figure 6. Scheme of artificial snow making systems and runs Access roads Hot bitumen asphalt covered road with the length of 7,500 m and width of m has been completed in Konakl (Figure 7). Figure 7. Access road 7

9 Facilities for UNIVERSIADE out of Konakl Ice skating hall with the capacity of 2000 audiences (Figure 8) Figure 8. Ice skating hall Short-Track hall with the capacity of 500 audiences (Figure 9) Figure 9. Short - track hall 8

10 Ice hockey halls with the capacity of 3000 and 500 audiences Figure 10. Ice hockey halls Curling hall with the capacity of 1000 audiences (Figure 11) Figure 11.Curling hall Lift, runs, lake, artificial snow making systems in Palandöken ski centre (Figure 12) 3 lifts have been completed. Lift A, 1443 m, 4 DC Lift B, 633 m, 4 DC Lift C, 1013 m, 4 DC 9

11 Figure 12. Lift and runs A small lake with the volume of 150,000 m³ has been constructed. Artificial snow making systems can make snow for an area of 27 ha (Figure 13). Figure 13. Location of small lake in Palandöken 10

12 Ski centre, biathlon and shooting area, cross country skiing area and other facilities in Kandilli area (Figure 14) Figure 14. Facilities in Kandilli 11

13 Ski Jumping Towers and Olympic Village Figure 15. Ski jumping towers and Olympic village 12

14 Some of the images from Konakl Area Figure 16. Konakl ski area

15 Figure 17. Allocation area for hotels in Konakl 14

16 Figure 18. Scheme of runs and lifts in Konakl 15

17 Figure 19. Runs, lifts, allocation area 16

18 Figure 20. Konakl village 17

19 Figure 21. Lifts 18

20 Figure 22. Konakl village 19

21 Figure 23. Start of lifts in Konakl 20

22 Figure 24. Lift 21

23 Figure 25. Lift 22

24 Figure 26. Overview 23

25 Figure 27. Overview 24

26 Figure 28. Overview 25