QUALITY OF LIFE IN CUKUROVA

 CULTURAL LIFE IN CUKUROVA

Mersin State Opera and Ballet was established in 1992. The orchestra took on its journey with a few staff musicians whereas it consists of 29 permanent musicians, 19 local guest musicians, and 12 foreign guest musicians today. It has been successfully performing a wide repertoire including opera, ballet, and symphonic music.

Mersin International Music Festival is an annual music festival held in Mersin. Mersin International Music Festival was established in 2001, and it is one of the major cultural events of the province. The festival takes place in October, every year. The festival, which became a member of the European Festivals Association, or EFA, in 2007, has proved to be high in quality not only to Turkey but also to the whole world. http://www.merfest.org.tr/main.aspx?lang=1

The Cukurova State Symphony Orchestra () founded after the Turkish Presidency Symphony Orchestra, Istanbul and Izmir State Symphony Orchestras, started to perform with 17 musicians, which was a small cadre at the beginning. Orchestra, which meticulously designs its schedule every season, is inviting well-known musicians to the town in order to promote universal polyphonic music to Turkish audience and to let them love and enjoy it more. http://www.cukurovasenfoni.org/

Altın Koza International Film Festival (The Golden Boll) is a film festival of Adana, that was held 17 times since 1969 and took place every year since 2005. The event is organized by the Greater Adana Municipality and takes place in June. Beginning from 2006, the scope of the festival is broadened to an international dimension within the framework of the cinema in Mediterranean basin countries. http://www.altinkoza.org/splash.php

Adana State Theater opened its stage in 1981 at the Sabancı Cultural Center. It performs regularly from October to May.

Adana Town Theater was founded in 1880 to be the first theater in Adana by governor Ziya Paşa. In 1926, the theater moved to the newly built Community Center. Town Theater currently performs weekly at the Metropolitan Theater Hall which also hosts Town Chorus and community theater, folklor and concert performances.

Seyhan Town Theater (Adana) and Folkloric Dances stage weekly at the 1000-seater Theater Hall of Seyhan Cultural Center.

Theatres/Movies:

Cinebonus Mersin Cinemall Mersin Cinens Kipa Mersin Kultur Cinema Clup (Mersin) Marina Vista İcel Metropol Adana Ariplex Adana Cinebonus-M1 Adana

 WEEKEND VENUES

Göksu Delta and Bird Paradise (Mersin)

Goksu Delta is regarded by the International Council for Bird Protection (ICBP) as a major bird refuge in Europe and the Middle East, with more than 300 bird species. It is the primary reproduction area in Turkey for reed rooster, summer duck, flamingo, heron, pelican, spurred pewit, long-legged marsh swallow, Izmir kingfisher, bee eater, moustached reed nightingale and the white throat warbler. The Goksu Delta has also a special significance for being one of the few remaining areas in the world where sea turtles (caretta caretta, chelonias mydas) and blue crabs (callinectes sapidus) lay their eggs. The Environmental Protection Department of the Ministry of Environment has declared the Goksu delta as a Special Environmental Protection Zone to protect the area against pollution and exploitation, and to ensure that natural resources and cultural assets have a future.

Akyatan Bird Of Paradıse And Protect Area Of Wildlife (Adana)

While Seyhan and Ceyhan river pour to Mediterranean they create the Çukurova Plain. Akyatan and Ağyatan rivers which are located on the east of and the west of Ceyhan river do the honors to hundreds varieties of birds that migration from South to North. Akyatan lake which is 40 km away from the Adana and consisting of forest, sand, reeds of the swamp, endemic plants is a natural wonder with the area of protect the wildlife. The bird’s paradise around Akyatan and Ağyatan lakes are really worth watching and visiting of lagün,gren and Caretteturtles continue their survival. Birds of Paradise field you can watch charadrius, Snowy Plovers, lapwings, little Calidrids, Black-bellied calidrids, Ruffs, Flamingos, Snipes, Tringas, Summer ducks, pochards and mallards, teals, Oxyura Leucocephalas,Anas Creccas, Cranes, Green bee-eaters, squacco herons and turtles.

Coastal Activities in Cukurova:

Stretching along the North Mediterranean Sea, Mersin and Adana’s coast lines are 321 and 160 km long respectively – 481 km for the whole Region, equal to 5.7% of Turkey’s overall coast line and 30.5% of Turkey’s Mediterranean coasts. Cukurova a bunch of great coastal activities for you to enjoy. Pair the gorgeous coastal setting with a great day out in the water or along the beach.

HEALTH/MEDICAL CARE IN CUKUROVA:

Cukurova University Hospital of Faculty of Medicine: The faculty has a center for research and application funded by the faculty itself, multidisciplinary labs, an emergency service and first aid, a pharmacy, a blood center, a modern and fully-equipped central operating theater, and central laboratories. The hospital of the Faculty of Medicine, with its 850 beds, and equipped with the latest technological equipment, provides a high standard medical service for people mostly from southern and south-eastern regions of Turkey. The number of beds will increase up to 1200 following the completion of the extension building. Services in all units such as laboratories, pharmacy, blood center, patient admission rooms, and accounting are all given through computers. The hospital has study halls, a library, a conference hall (for up to 200 people), a canteen, and a cafeteria which caters for all academic and administrative staff as well as for students.

Other Hospitals in Adana

Acıbadem Hospital Ortopedia Hospital Baskent University Hospital Adana Hospital Ortadoğu Hospital State Hospital Numune Hospital Hospital Cukurova State Hospital Mersin University Hospital started to serve community officially in 1998 along with education and research in medicine. Hospital is constantly developing and is the center for research, training, providing health services in addition to providing excellent teaching opportunities for the medical students.

Other Hospitals in Mersin Sistem Hospital IMECE Hospital Forum Yasam Hospital Yenisehir Hospital Ortadogu Hospital Toros Hospital Mersin State Hospital Tanrıöver Doğuş Hospital

Other Events

Offshore racing in Mersin and Adana

Offshore races are among the most elite sports that attract a significant number of sponsors and viewers alike. As one of the extreme sports, true sports lovers and the media in Turkey have great interest to the Offshore Races. A total of 20 races are held in 10 different cities including Adana and Mersin in Turkey.