New details of the project of the National Garden on the basis of the former Ataturk Airport - the National Park, which continues to prepare for the opening, have become known.
The Ataturk Airport National Garden will become the fifth largest park of its kind in the world, and the largest in Turkey. To date, 10,081 trees and 41 thousand plants have been planted in the garden; the covered territories alone cover an area of about 70,000 square meters.
In total, there are 145 thousand 300 trees on the territory of the garden, including 350-year-old olives and 50-60-year-old lime trees and plane trees; the park has already been dubbed the "green lungs of the city". Due to the fact that there are both coniferous and deciduous trees in abundance here, the national garden will remain green all year round.
Nine separate entrances are planned in the park; in addition to areas for walking, relaxing and enjoying nature, there are, so to speak, practically useful sections - greenhouses and gardens: natural products grown right here can be bought by everyone.
In the national park, an artificial stream (Ab-ı Hayat Suyu) with a length of about 2.5 kilometers will be laid. It will stretch in the north-south direction, picnic areas, viewing terraces and places for recreation are planned on both sides of the stream. A step-by-step descent is organized to the water, which will allow children to even play in the water.
The same 2.5 kilometers of bike and pedestrian paths will be laid nearby.
Well, all the work in the national park will be completed, there will be paths for skateboarding, tennis courts; children's, volleyball and basketball courts; exhibition halls and libraries on the territory of social facilities, cafes... There is talk of creating a free canteen.
In addition, the National Garden of the Ataturk Airport will be used as an Istanbul gathering area in the event of natural disasters and earthquakes. Recall that the garden is being built in such a way that, if necessary, 40 000 tents can be installed here and a shelter can be created for 165 000 people at once.