CAMLIHEMSIN
At an altitude of 300 meters, some 20 kilometers inland from the coast, Çamlıhemşin marks a climatic transition point at the junction of two rushing rivers, serving as a gateway to the majestic Kaçkar Mountains. Revel in the breathtaking mountain views as you listen to the Fırtına River (Storm River) rushing by. Çamlıhemşin itself is just a small town of 2,355 people but possesses a deeply appealing authenticity. The locals are ethnically mostly Hemşin.
On the road to Ayder beyond Çamlıhemşin, several ancient humpback bridges across the Fırtına were restored for the Turkish Republic's 75th anniversary in 1998. All along the way, traditional Hemşin wooden houses overlook terraces perched above the river valley, as waterfalls crash down from the heights above.
