Find heavenly beauty among Tunceli's Munzur Mountains

Surrounded by the Munzur Mountains in eastern Anatolia, Tunceli is an offbeat tourism destination for those looking to discover hidden, natural beauty. The city has received recognition in recent years thanks to widespread investments that have worked to enhance the city's already impressive features and activities.

The city is now home to a peaceful and confident environment following a successful fight against terrorism in the region and has significant tourism potential with its historic sites, mystical feel and natural beauty.

Resembling a heaven on earth when blanketed by snow in winter and a green haven in summer, Tunceli lures visitors with Munzur Valley National Park, which was registered as a national park in 1971.

The city is very rich in vegetation, and its streamside beaches on Pülümür and Muzur brooks and the piers built on Uzunçayır Dam Lake rival Turkey's famous holiday regions near the Aegean and Mediterranean. Special sand was brought in from holiday resorts by the Tunceli Governorship and placed on the beaches of Pülümür and Munzur brooks; boat docks were also built on Uzunçayır Dam Lake in the city center.

Tour boats, yachts and jet skis on the dam's beautiful, deep-blue lake have also contributed to the tourism potential of the city, especially in summer months.

Local and foreign tourists who visit Tunceli have a chance to discover the natural beauty of the city with yachts, jet skis and tour boats.

Governor and Deputy Mayor Tuncay Sonel, who wanted to draw attention to the tourism potential of the city after he was appointed to the governorate, often gives visitors tours of the area on yachts on the lake. The boats on the dam's lake offer views that parallel holiday resorts in coastal regions.

Haunted by terrorism for years, the city of Tunceli and its citizens embraced the opportunity to attract tourism to their region after peace returned.

Sonel told Anadolu Agency (AA) that he took over the offices of governor and deputy mayor nearly 15 months ago.

Noting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his ministers are interested in the region and support it, Sonel continued: "The projects that had been discussed for years were completed in just under a year. When our heroic security forces succeeded in combating the terrorists, we showed the warmth and compassion of our state to our local people. Great municipal work, which was often discussed but not executed, has been conducted. The most important among them is the coastal arrangement works on the Munzur Riverbank. We have gondolas, tour boats, jet skis, large speedboats and boats from Antalya here; this is now a tourist city."

The governor stressed that Turkish citizens no longer need to visit Venice to ride in a gondola; they can now simply visit Munzur Brook.

Mentioning that paragliding is also a great past time offered in the region, Sonel added: "We have rivers where rafting is done in the summer and a ski center in Ovacık where people can ski in the winter. There is unique, indescribable, natural beauty in Tunceli. Visitors are welcome to come and see the hospitable people and natural beauty of the city."

He said they want everyone to have the opportunity to enjoy the Munzur and Pülümür rivers. "Everyone should come and swim in these cool waters. They can rest on beaches covered in sand brought from the country's southern beaches and enjoy our city's fresh air at night. Tunceli is one of the most important and beautiful spots in both Turkey and the world. People should not miss the opportunity to explore this unique destination."