yaylalar

Yaylalar are highland pastures and seasonal settlements used for summer grazing by pastoral communities in Turkey and other Turkic-influenced regions. A yayla refers to elevated meadows or plateaus where livestock are moved to access fresh forage during the warmer months, a practice tied to transhumance—herders and their animals migrate between winter and summer pastures.

Geography and settlement patterns vary, but yaylalar are commonly found in Turkey’s mountainous regions, including the Pontic (Black Sea) and Taurus ranges, as well as eastern Anatolia. They typically lie above the tree line at substantial elevations, often around 1,500 to 2,500 meters, though some sites are higher. Seasonal dwellings, known as yayla evleri, historically consisted of simple stone or wooden houses that housed herders and their families during the summer; in many places, these have been supplemented or replaced by modern guesthouses and restaurants catering to visitors.

Culture and economy center on grazing, dairy production, and seasonal labor. Beyond pastoral activities, some yaylalar host cultural events and traditional festivals in summer. In recent decades, rural depopulation and changes in agriculture have affected traditional use, while ecotourism and rural development have helped sustain a number of sites. Access, land use, and water resources are often managed to balance production with conservation, as climate variability and overgrazing can impact pastures and biodiversity.