The address of the “Bests” and “Firsts”

Balıkesir is the luckiest city of our country in terms of Turkey’s geographical features. We mention a few of the features that will envy Istanbul and Çanakkale. The city, which is one of the rare cities with coasts to both Marmara and Aegean Seas. Most of the Kaz Mountains, which have the highest oxygen rate in Turkey after the Alp Mountains, are located within the boundaries of this province. Known as the land of islands and winds, Ayvalık has a wealth of islands with more than 10 Aegean Islands as well as Marmara, Avşa Ekinlik. The first star in tourism is Erdek, summer paradise Altınoluk, Akçay Ören, although its beaches are not open to foreign tourism as much as the Mediterranean beaches, they are the favorite of local tourists in domestic tourism and the holiday paradise is a nature temple. Even migratory birds are pleased with their lives that they preferred Manyas Lake for reproduction and survival, making the region known as Bird Paradise. In 1976, the (A) class diploma was given by the Council of Europe, and the diploma was renewed 3 times in the following years. The lake hosts more than 239 bird species and more than 20 fish species.

When the islands say lakes, it’s time for rivers. While Vallah Creek, which is located in Mıhlıçay, which is the provincial border with Yeşilyurt village of Çanakkale, is the secret paradise of tourism in Kaz Mountains Zeytinli Mevkii, finally the Susurluk river seems to be in the service of tourism in the future even if the sands accumulated in the riverbed are taken and used for construction.
The route and of course the Susurluk river will gain more importance with the construction of the Balıkesir – Manisa road, the “Cross Road” that will connect the Church of the Virgin Mary in Selçuk to Europe. While Susurluk continues to be an important stopover with its “Ayran Houses”, it also promises to gain a different dimension with the new fish restaurants to be built on the riverside. Let me explain the secret flavor secret in ayran, as it is famous for its Susurluk buttermilk. The milk product and water used are of course very effective, but the main flavor is gained during production. Ayran is poured from the container from the top to the bowl many times, and it is ensured that it is flavored by both foaming and taking in air. As well as the buttermilk of the region, Mihaliç cheese, which children see in cartoons and likened to perforated miki cheese, and Hoşmerim are among the tastes sought.

If we count the less salty fish of the Aegean and the Marmara Sea compared to the Mediterranean, and the natural trout of the streams fed by the ice-cold snow waters flowing from the Susurluk River and Kaz mountains, Balıkesir seems to surpass other cities with these writings. But the blessings offered by the city are not like counting. Aside from the springs with oregano, mint scent, mountain herbs, endemic plants unique to the region, which are born from the pleasant springs of the Kaz Mountains, the best in the world olive oil maps of the Italian olive oil producers, Altınoluk, Ayvalık, Kapıdağ Peninsula is also within the boundaries of this region, including its surroundings. Another feature of the region is its healing hot springs.