Kars has a characteristic harsh continental climate with six or seven months of winter and frost for approximately 160 days of the year. The record high temperature recorded in the city is 34.8 C, and the lowest is - 39.6 C.
FLORA
Meadows and grasslands are the dominant flora in Kars. There are also pine forests in the towns of Sarikamis and Ardahan Posof, and oak trees in the town of Kagizman. As the linking point between Anatolia, Caucasus and Central Asia, Kars contains species typical to all these geographies, making for a rich biological variety. Flora typical to steppes or deserts can be observed in the lowland of Igdir and along Kagizman. In the mountains above 3,000 metres there are species typical to Alaska or Siberia.
During the Ice Age, when temperatures fell dramatically at places close to the poles, many animal and plant species migrated to Anatolia to survive. In between ice ages, some of these species returned home, others settled in Anatolia and still others did both.
The combination of plateaus and mountain grasslands in Kars makes the province suitable for stockbreeding, and it is also rich in mineral waters. At a time when the importance of healthy drinking water is emphasized all over the world as well as in Turkey, the unpolluted Kars region has thousands of springs and relatively clean streams, rivers and lakes. Cildir Lake, Aktas Lake, Aygir Lake, Cali Lake and Kuyucuk Lake also host a variety of bird life. The Scots pine (Pinus Sylvestris) forests of Kars are unique in Turkey.
Around 1,250 species of seeded plants breed naturally in the region, including 100 endemic species which do not exist elsewhere in the world, including the Kars Burcagi (Lathyrus Karsianus) that breed in the Allahuekber Mountains. Others include Festuka Karsiana, Allium Karsianum, Caucalis Karsianum and Nonea Karsensis.
The snow starts to melt in mid-April, and with the coming of spring Crocus and Cochicum begin to flourish, followed by buttercups, primroses and orange corn poppies by the side of the water.
The villagers of Kars pick koskoz (Earthnut pea/Lathyrus tuberosus) while ploughing their fields in spring and peel them to eat. Fresh coriander (Coriandrum sativum) is sold in the markets and used to flavour local dishes. Blue Globe Thistle (Echinops Pungens) is eaten uncooked.
A view from Cildir Lake. Photograph: Ertugrul Erdem
Hogweed (Heracleum Trachyloma) stalks are peeled and then eaten either raw or pickled. Crazy poppy (hashish), stinging nettle, yemlik, evelek (lepitora procera), kusyemi (canary grass/phalaris canariensis), as otu (a kind of red corn poppy/papaver rhoeas) are other plants that enrich Kars cuisine.
The healing side of plants has been known in Kars since ancient times. People known as healers used to apply this knowledge, learned from their grandparents, to cure physical and psychological illnesses. With the progress of modern medicine and the drug industry, this knowledge of plants and their therapeutic effects, gained over years of experience, has been largely forgotten. Today, plants like yellow flower (nego), fresh radish, vine leaves, flaxseed or onions are still used, although infrequently, to treat small ailments.
The lack of industry in Kars has been considered a failing of the city. However, it is thanks to this underdevelopment that the soil and water in Kars remain unpolluted, and much of the province is suitable for organic agriculture.
LAKES
The main lakes of Kars are Cildir, Karzak, Aygir and Cenklice, and others include Erhan, Turna, Cenekci and Kuyucuk lakes. The only artificial lake in the region is the one created by the Arpacay Dam, one of three major dams in Kars. The others are the Cildir and Bayburt dams; the first two produce energy, while Bayburt is used for irrigation only..
CILDIR LAKE
Located in the boundaries of Ardahan and Kars, Cildir is a fresh-water tectonic lake 1960 meters above sea level. At 115 square kilometers it is the country's largest after Lake Van.
The lake is up to 22 meters deep and hosts many wild birds and trout fish Runoff from the lake joins with the Cala and Kars streams.
AYGIR LAKE
The deepest part of this four square kilometre fresh water lake situated along the Kars-Gole road is 30 meters. It lies to the west of the town of Susuz and is fed by melting snow and springs at its depths.
Aygir in Turkish means stallion and it bears that name because apparently when the air is released underneath, due to the melting of the snow in the early spring; it makes a sound similar to that of a neighing horse.
DENIZ (CENGILLI - ULKER) LAKE
Located on the slopes of Aladag Mountain facing the town of Kagizman, this fresh-water lake is fed by water sources at its depths and hosts many fish.
TURNA LAKE
This two square kilometre lake is located in a volcanic area northeast of Kotek village in the town of Kagizman, its grassy shores cutting through the surrounding hills. Though deep, the lake contains no fish.
KUYUCUK LAKE
Again no fish, though the lake, situated on the road to Akyaka, is host to wild birds that have helped it win protected status, including wild geese, ducks, cormorants and storks. The lake swells to around 10,000 square meters in spring.
LAVAS LAKE
A small lake situated on the southwest of Cildir Lake. Its waters are directed to the Cildir Lake via a channel built by the State Water Authority.
The snow starts to melt in mid-April, and with the coming of spring Crocus and Cochicum begin to flourish, followed by buttercups, primroses and orange corn poppies by the side of the water.
Photograph: Ertugrul Erdem