Bentler Nature Park


Bentler Nature Park is a nature park located in Sarıyer district of Istanbul Province, Turkey. Bentler means "dams" in Turkish language.
Situated from Bahçeköy neighborhood of Sarıyer, it covers an area of. It was established in 2011, and is one of the nine nature parks inside the Belgrad Forest. The protected area is named after the historic dams, the Topuzlu Dam, Valide Dam and New Dam, which are located north of the park area. There are other structures as the Iskara Bendi and historical fountains from the Ottoman Empire era. Bentler Nature Park has two entrances, the main entrance of Belgrad Forest and Kurtkemeri Gate.
The nature park offers outdoor recreation activities such as hiking, cycling and picnicing for visitors on daily basis. There are playgrounds for children. Admission is charged for visitors and vehicles.

Ecosystem

The nature park is rich on flora and fauna.
;Flora
Main tree species are oak and hornbeam. A 269-year old plane tree next to the Valide Dam was registered as a monument.
The park is habitat for diverse plant species. As coniferous tree Turkish pine, as deciduous trees oriental plane, silver linden, European hornbeam, oriental beech, kasnak oak, Turkey oak, Aleppo oak, European ash, sweet chestnut, alder, blackthorn, medlar, Turkish hazel are found in the park. Shrubs of the nature park are blackberry, butcher's-broom and buttercup.
;Fauna
The main fauna of the nature park consists of the mammals wild boar, fox, deer, roe deer, hare, chipmunk, the reptile turtle. Observed bird species are hawk, sparrow, finch, mappie.