The melting of glaciers in the Cilo-Sat Mountains, at an altitude of 4,135 meters in Hakkari, due to global warming, is worrying locals and environmentalists. The mountains, which were declared a “national park” by the presidential declaration in 2020, are visited by nature lovers and mountain climbers from various cities in Turkey.
Cilo Mountains hosted the festival last year, which was attended by 20,000 people. However, in recent years, the melting of glaciers has been accelerating. Van YYU Geography Department Faculty Member Prof. Dr. Faruk Alaeddinoğlu states that glaciers have suffered serious loss of area over the years.
Experts Warn: “Glaciers May Disappear in a Short Time”
Prof. Dr. Alaeddinoğlu emphasizes that urgent measures must be taken to protect glaciers. He draws attention to the fact that glaciers can disappear in a short time. Stating that the melting of glaciers is accelerating due to global warming and human impact, Prof. Dr. Alaeddinoğlu states that the melting process accelerates especially the damage to glaciers.
Cilo Glaciers: Ancient Witnesses of Anatolia
Stating that people have to protect glaciers and pass them on to future generations, Prof. Dr. Alaeddinoğlu emphasizes that Cilo glaciers are the oldest witnesses of Anatolia. He states that glaciers are not just a piece of nature, but also shed light on the past.
Concerns About the Future
Prof. Dr. Alaeddinoğlu states that if the glaciers continue to melt, it could negatively affect agriculture, animal husbandry and human activities. He emphasizes that urgent measures should be taken to protect the Cilo glaciers. He states that the glaciers should be protected so that future generations can see this natural heritage.
