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Firtina
Country Turkey
Region Black Sea Coast
Class 3-5 (X)
Map Firtina
Tributaries

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Mouth Black Sea


Other rivers


Firtina (Fırtına) is one of the most interesting rivers on the Black Sea coast. This region receives a lot or precipitation (as clouds are coming from the Black Sea and stop on the mountains). That makes it possible to run rivers even in the high summer.

There is a road all the time along the river, and in most places it is possible to do "road scouting" (except for the gorge at the castle).

To get there go from Trabzon the the east, after Pazar town take the road to Çamlıhemşin. Don't let yourself fool about the high number of raft companies. They operate only on the lower section, the middle and upper sections are "kayakers only". Ca. 5 km above Çamlıhemşin there is the "Otel Doğa" hotel. Its run by the well-travelled Idris and it the perfect base to explore the valleys. Idris speaks fluent English and French! There is no camping facilities near the hotel, but Idris might suggest you some places further upstream. Anyway, the rooms are not expensive and food is delicious.


Spis treści

River Sections

Upper


We drove up the valley quite a long way above the castle gorge. We started on the left-hand tributary upstream of the village Cat right at a class 4-5 rapid, very steep, fast, shallow. Afterwards it happened to be class 3-4, 3. Then we had a long portage (it's worthwhile to recognize it from the road while driving up the valley), and then up to class 5, and another portage. We finished there.

Paddling on this section was quite exploratory. Gradient regular (portages much steeper, with huge boulders). River flows fast, eddies are often very small. Most of the rapids one can scout from the road.

Above the Gorge


Especially towards the end very steep and fast with short pools. Only attempt in low water. Easy to scout from the road. section description is missing

Section above the gorge looks as if it is quite steep. Warning: in case of swimming, the kayak might end up in the gorge!

Zilkale Gorge


Seldomly run – take great care and attempt only in low water. (late summer) section description is missing

Section which requires just a small amount of water! The road is far way up, and leaving the gorge is virtually impossible.

Otel Doğa Run


The section starts quite easy, class 3+. Before "Otel Doğa" there is an interesting big water rapid class 4-4+ which large stoppers and a cliff on the left side. After ca. 30 minutes (4 km) one arrives to the hotel. Afterwards the gradient increases and it may be worthwhile to scout a few rapids. After the road changes to river left, Fırtına soon becomes easier. Fast current in a wide gravel bed on the last 2 km. Be sure not to miss the take-out and enter accidentially the following cataracts.

Polis Evi Cataract


This most serious part of the classical Fırtına sections consists of a very long and steep series of rapids between large boulders, big water, some siphons. More friendly in late summer and autumn. Don't attempt this run in high water. One can scout from the left bank of the river. Setting up safety is difficult, especially that there are not too large pools.

Çamlıhemşin Run


From the beginning quite regular, a few stoppers behind the boulders (some of them quite powerful, depending on the water lewel). After 2,5 km next to the petrol station large river-wide hole at a boulder weir - it's possible to scout from the left bank of the river. There is a kicker on the weir. Next difficult rapid - large boulders, left part goes to the undercut, on the right side - drop, ca. 2.5m. One can setup safety on the right bank of the river.

After 600 m the most difficult rapid with a big undercut ledge on the left and enormous holes. You can scout from the left bank of the river, on the right side - chicken line.

Another km down a long class 4 rapid (3+ in LW) with a suspension bridge which remarks the end of this section. However, most paddlers continue with the quarry run. There are several big water rapids on the sections. River can be more difficult with higher water level!

Quarry Run


the put-in avoids the two class 5 rapids of the Çamlıhemşin run. There's nothing remarkable at the put-in except a small place for raod-side parking and a tiny trail down to the water. After one km of class 2-3 you approach the first rapid with the suspension bridge. High in the left slope you note a big Turkish flag and a waterfall (might be dry in late summer). The rapid is a class 3 in low water but turns to a powerful 4 in high levels. Generally the whole section looks mostly easy from the road. But don't underestimate it, the hardest rapids are hidden. The first tricky one consists of a huge lateral wave over the whole width (class 3+). It is right next to a small electrical substation.


Two rapids you want to scout before running them. At the begin of the quarry area there is a single rock with a Caykur sign. Just nextby is the rapid (class 4). That one is long, there is different lines regarding the water level and the skills of the paddlers. Soon you arrive at the slalom parcours (3+), great for eddy practising and playboating. Just below are the restaurants where the more ambitious raft trips start. Scout the next rapid, it looks artificial, has big holes and rocks in the receiption depending on the water level. Besides that the section is a great playrun which never gets boring. Especially good with big water in late spring and summer.



Into the Black Sea


The easiest section, runnable by rafts and duckies. It's worth doing it with beginners or if the water level is high (too high for the other sections). There are two weirs, first is a 1 m concrete barrier, which you better run in the right channel (on the left side there are metal stakes). The second one is a 1,5 m boulder weir. Scout it from the left, take one of the low-volume-chutes on the left or set your boof properly to fly over the hole on the right. After 2,5 km Tunca Dere is joining from the right. You can also start this section on Tunca at a bridge 2,2 km above the confluence. Shortly after the confluence the hardest rapid, a long gravel cataract with a huge hole in the middle. Take care with beginners. If you want to portage that get out well in advance on river left. Don't let you fool from the impression you get from the road. Even the last 3 km is well worth paddling and it's a great experience to reach the sea by boat.

Water level

GPS Coordinates


Map

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External links

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