INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON IDA MOUNTAIN

WELCOME to ICIDA 2023

Located in the north of the Edremit Gulf within the borders of Edremit District of Balıkesir Province, Ida Mountain has been home to various civilizations with its history dating back to prehistoric times and is a natural wonder National Park with its rich flora and fauna. The geological, geomorphological, botanical and hydrological features of the area, which has high biodiversity, create suitable habitats for biodiversity. Ida Mountain has a rich flora with its geographical location, geological structure, traditional architecture, climatic diversity and its isolated location on the border of two flora regions such as Mediterranean and Euro-Siberian, and has approximately 800 plant species in its flora. With all these features, Ida Mountain has been designated as one of the Important Plant Areas (IBA) not only for Turkey but also for the whole European continent. The region also takes place in the world literature with its underground values such as gold, silver, copper, uranium and thorium.

In addition, the area has an important place in the mythology of the ancient period and the traces of this mythology have reached to the present day with the legends of later periods. Homer's Iliad also mentions that the region has been inhabited for thousands of years. In the Iliad epic (850 BC), the god Zeus says; "There is such a place between the blue of the Aegean and the green of Ida; I could not find the flavor of my breakfast with exquisite olive varieties in the pungent smell of thyme, this is Gargaron." In addition to Paleo Gargaron, which has preserved its traditional settlement texture since ancient times, Antandros, Adramytteion and many other ancient cities are settlements suitable for the definition of "ecological village". While Turkmens who migrated to Ida Mountain since the beginning of the 14th century have established a common life in the villages in habited the Greek people lived near the coast and in the inner regions with higher altitudes, obas were established where only Turkmen lived. Generally, the "yörük" villages that established a common life with the Greeks and later became completely Turkified, and the villages established in the interior are called Turkmen villages. Villages close to the coast such as Adatepe, Narlı, Altınoluk and Güre were the nomadic villages where Greeks lived until the population exchange at the beginning of the twentieth century. While the region was affiliated to Hudavendigar Liva in 1530, it appears in Livâ-i Biga in 1831. Sustainable small villages or towns were established on these rare lands that have survived until today, and these villages still maintain their importance. Some villages in this special area have the potential to turn into attractive and livable modern eco-village designs that can also be used by the communities of the future.

The declaration of the National Park has also increased the popular interest in the area in terms of tourism. As a result of this, a continuous migration movement to Ida Mountain and Edremit Bay started and these migrations made the region attractive. Our Congress is organized in order to announce the features of Ida Mountain (geological, climatic, geomorphological, hydrological, flora and fauna and cultural richness) to wider masses and to develop cooperation between those who want to contribute to the area. It will be held in Edremit Güre on 28-30 September 2023 with the contributions of Balikesir University and the Balıkesir City Council. The languages of our multidisciplinary congress on Ida Mountain are Turkish and English. We invite you to the International Congress on Ida Mountain to talk about area and to transfer your knowledge.

Where?       When?

Güre/Balıkesir   28 - 30 September 2023

Topics

Related to Ida Mountains,
Tourism,
Archaeology,
Flora and Fauna,
Geography,
Geology,
Architecture,
History,
Literature,
Sociology,
Medical History,
Olive and Olive Oil,
Mythology,
Agriculture and Forestry,
Natural and Cultural Landscape,
Economics and Sociology,
Geothermal,
Ecology.
And Other Scientific Presentations.

Congress participation is free.