Firtina Valley Bridge
10″ x 8″ Acrylic on card

The Fırtına Valley which runs through the heart of Çamlıhemşin is spanned by the Ottoman-era Fırtına River bridges.  The valley ıs located near Rize in the far north east of Turkey.  Çamlıhemşin is high in the valley, which leads down to the Black Sea coast, and is an important access point to the Kaçkar range whose high mountains poke up into the clouds.  Fırtına means Storm and although it rains here all year round, temperatures can fall to minus 7°C in winter and reach 25°C in summer.  However the countryside is a gorgeous mix of meadows and valleys and in recent years the district has begun to attract touristsö especıally people on trekking holidays in the Kaçkar.  Çamlıhemşin is a low-income district and people live from forestry, beekeeping or herding animals.