The youngest explorer of the Artabel Lakes is 1-year-old Ikim Doğa Can

Hasan Yavuz and Başak Eda Can, a couple living in Gümüşhane, organized a hike to Artabel Lakes Nature Park with their one-year-old daughter named İklim Doğa Can. This activity, where little İklim Doğa met nature just like her name suggests, was recorded by the family with a camera.

Father Hasan Yavuz Can, carrying his little daughter in his arms throughout the 10-kilometer trail, explored the unique beauties of the park while the family experienced the peace and beauty of nature together. The crystal-clear waters, lush nature, and clean air of Artabel Lakes made this hike even more special.

With the arrival of spring, Artabel Lakes Nature Park, which is home to 22 lakes known for their crystal-clear waters, frozen lakes, rushing rivers, magnificent waterfalls, and colorful flowers, turns into a corner of paradise. Surrounded by steep peaks, the park hosts glacial lakes, endemic plants and animals, ancient migration routes, diverse wildlife, and rich flora and fauna, offering visitors unique views and enchanting beauties especially in the summer months.

Described as the roof of Gümüşhane, Artabel Lakes Nature Park was declared a historical site due to its captivating natural beauty and the presence of martyr graves, trenches, war roads, and headquarters ruins dating back to the Ottoman-Russian war period.

Having first visited Artabel Lakes Nature Park in 2017 and dreaming of exploring it with his family one day, Hasan Yavuz Can set out with his family to Artabel Lakes Nature Park when the season conditions were most suitable to turn this dream into reality.

“We wanted her to connect with nature just like her name implies”

To ensure that his daughter İklim Doğa connects with nature and to instill a love of nature in her, Hasan Yavuz Can, who carried his daughter on the 10-kilometer trail, took her to the cleanest natural spring water where she could see and play with the water she loves. Hasan Yavuz Can said, “My daughter İklim Doğa is only 1 year old but we wanted to make her love nature and ensure she meets with nature just like her name implies.”

The video of the event shared by Hasan Yavuz Can on his social media account received hundreds of likes. Even in his father’s arms, little İklim Doğa Can completed the trail at Artabel Lakes Nature Park and was declared the youngest mountaineer of the year by mountaineering clubs.

“When I first walked in 2017, I had dreamed of these days”

Stating that he is an amateur interested in mountaineering and trekking sports, Can said, “My wife Başak Eda and my daughter İklim Doğa and I love to spend time in nature. When I first walked to Artabel lakes in 2017, I had dreamed of these days. I wanted to explore this natural wonder with my wife and child one day. Today, we came as a family to explore Artabel Lakes when the season conditions were most suitable.” Talking about wanting to make his daughter love nature and ensure she connects with ‘nature’ just like her name implies, Can said, “It was very important for us that our daughter met nature at such an early age. Even if we knew she wouldn’t remember this beautiful destination, we wanted it to be a nice memory for her. We started the 10-kilometer trail with a nice breakfast in the morning. Despite how challenging the trail was, we often go on hikes like this so that İklim Doğa can see these natural formations without being disturbed. Artabel Lakes was one of the most different experiences for us. Our daughter İklim Doğa was awarded the ‘Youngest Mountaineer of the Year’ by the mountaineering clubs. I carried my daughter completely on the 10-kilometer trail. İklim Doğa loves playing with water. We brought our daughter to the cleanest natural spring water she could see. Even though the water was cold, we introduced İklim Doğa to the water. No matter how exhausted we were, it was definitely worth it for Artabel Lakes. My wife and I often go on nature hikes in the Gümüşhane region and plan to continue this tradition. We will continue to explore natural wonders that offer different beauties in every season. Nature is a passion for us and we aim to pass this passion on to our daughter.” Expressing his desire to pass on his passion for mountains and nature to his daughter, Can said, “I wanted my daughter Doğa to see this beautiful and untouched destination and have a memory of it. Travel a lot with your children. Money can be earned again, but time cannot.”