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The number of species of flowers in Turkey is approximately 9,000, of which 3,000 are endemic. In all of Europe, there are 11,500 species.

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A forest in Turkey.

Environmental Concerns in Turkey

Balikesir

Area: 14.292 km²

Population: 973.314 (1990)

Traffic Code: 10

Districts: Balikesir (center), Ayvalik, Balya, Bandirma, Bigadic, Burhaniye, Dursunbey, Edremit, Erdek, Gonen, Havran, Ivrindi, Kepsut, Manyas, Marmara, Savastepe, Sindirgi, Susurluk.

Balikesir Links

Sites of Interest

  • Kus Cenneti (bird sanctuary) National Park
  • Erdek, Bandirma, and Edremit Bays
  • Ayvalik coastal beaches
  • Seytan Sofrasi
  • Marmara Islands
  • Alibey (Cunda) Island
  • Erdek and Gonen open air museums
  • Kyzikos ruins
  • Balikesir Yildirim Mosque (Eski Cami)
  • Zaganos Pasha mosque complex
  • Clocked Church Mosque at Ayvalik
  • Alibey Mosque (Cinarli Cami)
  • Gonen
  • Pamukcu-Bengi
  • Balya Dag
  • Hisar
  • Hisarkoy (Asarkoy)
  • Karagac (Uyuz)
  • Kepekler Hot Springs
  • Dutluca Village Mineral Springs
  • Zeytinli Ada Hot Springs and Mineral Water Springs

Camps

  • Ant Camping, Erdek / Bandirma, Telephone: (266) 855 74 97
  • Kizikos Camping, Erdek / Bandirma, Telephone: (266) 855 70 71
  • Ipek Camping, Erdek / Bandirma, Telephone: (266) 855 71 64
  • Yesilim Camping, Cugra Mevki / Erdek, Telephone: (266) 835 30 04
  • Ali Oztoprak Camping, Erdek / Bandirma, Telephone: (266) 855 70 29
  • Abant Camping, Mangirci Mevki / Erdek, Telephone: (266) 855 70 88
  • Unlu Camping, Cugra Mevki / Erdek, Telephone: (266) 835 17 49
  • Gokce Turistik Tesisleri, Erdek / Bandirma, Telephone: (266) 855 70 55
  • Yesilcam Camping, Narlialti / Altinok, Telephone: (266) 398 72 92
  • Mertol Camping, Kucuksu Mevkii / Altinoluk
  • Antandros Camping, Boga Mevkii / Altinoluk, Telephone: (266) 378 53 61
  • Camlibel Camping, Ilica Isk. / Gure, Telephone: (266) 384 12 47
  • Gine Camping, Turgut Reis Caddesi / Akcay, Telephone: (266) 384 11 34
  • Pat Camping, Gunes Caddesi / Akcay, Telephone: (266) 384 37 89
  • Saka Camping, Gunes Caddesi / Akcay
  • Akcay Camping, Yeni Mahalle / Akcay, Telephone: (266) 384 28 18

Provincial Cultural Directorate

Telephone: (266) 245 31 52
Fax: (266) 245 31 52

State Fine Arts Gallery Directorate

Eski Kuyumcular Mah. Cavus Sokak No:30, Balikesir, Telephone: (0 266) 241 30 45, Fax: 245 31 52

Balikesir Museum

Address: Anafartalar Caddesi, Balikesir, Telephone: (266) 243 31 81

Historical Sites and Ruins

  • Kyzikos - Erdek
  • Deasklaion - Bandirma/Eregli
  • Saraylar - Marmara
  • Antandros - Edremit/Altinoluk

Local Days of Celebration

  • 6 February: Arrival of Ataturk at Balikesir, Balikesir
  • 8 February: Arrival of Ataturk at Gokceyazi, Gokceyazi
  • 13 April: Arrival of Ataturk at Ayvalik, Ayvalik
  • 13 June: Arrival of Ataturk at Bandirma, Bandirma

Freedom from Occupation Days

  • 3 September: Freedom Day for Dursunbey
  • 3 September: Freedom Day for Sindirgi
  • 4 September: Freedom Day for Bigadic
  • 5 September: Freedom Day for Susurluk
  • 6 September: Freedom Day for Balikesir
  • 6 September: Freedom Day for Gonen
  • 6 September: Freedom Day for Savastepe
  • 7 September: Freedom Day for Ivrindi
  • 8 September: Freedom Day for Burhaniye
  • 8 September: Freedom Day for Havran
  • 6 September: Freedom Day for Balya
  • 9 September: Freedom Day for Edremit
  • 14 September: Freedom Day for Manyas

Local Days of Celebration

  • 15 September: Freedom Day for Ayvalik
  • 17 September: Freedom Day for Bandirma
  • 18 September: Freedom Day for Erdek

Festivals

  • 2nd Sunday of May: Traditional Kiziksa Wrestling Matches, Manyas Kizilkoy Town
  • 2-7 June: International Bird Sanctuary Culture and Tourism Festival, Bandirma
  • 13-16 August: Burhaniye-Oren Culture and Art Festival Burhaniye-Oren
  • 22-24 September: Sindirgi Yagcibedir Rug Festival, Sindirgi

Festivities

  • 6 May: Hidirellez, in Bigadic and Ayvalik
  • 1-2 June: Milk Products Festivity Manyas
  • July: Kurtdereli Mehmet Pehlivan Celebrations, Kurtdere Village
  • 26 July: Peach Festivities, Kepsut
  • 15-19 August: Erdek Festivities, Erdek
  • 1-5 September: Susurluk Buttermilk, Culture and Art Festival, Susurluk

Expositions

  • 26 July-26 August: Balikesir National Exposition, Balikesir

Fairs

  • May (last week): Bandirma Cattle Fair, Bandirma
  • 3-6 June: Manyas Summer Fair, Manyas
  • 7-9 June: Dursunbey Animal Fair Dursunbey
  • 8-12 June: Balya Spring Fair, Balya
  • 13-16 June: Balya Orhanlar Fair, Balya
  • 16-20 June: Gonen District Fair, Gonen
  • 10-14 August: Dursunbey Animal and Goods Fair Dursunbey
  • Last Week of August: Bigadic District Fair, Bigadic
  • 5-8 September: Sindirgi-Kocakonak Village Animal and Goods Fair, Sindirgi-Kocakonak Village
  • 7-10 September: Korucu District Fair Korucu
  • 15-18 September: Manyas Autumn Fair Manyas
  • 17-21 September: Savastepe Animal and Goods Fair Savastepe
  • 20-22 September: Balya District Fair Balya
  • 22-25 September: Ivrindi District Fair Ivrindi
  • September (last week): Bandirma Cattle Fair, Bandirma