SIRNAK, Türkiye 

Farasin Plateau in Türkiye's southeastern Sirnak province offers a unique playground for children wishing to escape the summer heat with snow that does not melt even in July.

Located in the Beytussebap district, the plateau, also known as the Huzur (Peace) Plateau, with an altitude of 2,625 meters (8,612 feet), stands out with its cool air on hot summer days.

With its winding and narrow paths, it is also a frequent destination for Yesiloz village residents who take their animals to graze there daily and also bring their children along.

Even in July, the plateau -- with a snow depth reaching 10 meters (32 feet) in winter -- offers children the opportunity to have fun during their summer vacation with its snow layer.

After an hour-long journey, the adults graze their animals, while the children enjoy sliding on the snow with pieces of plastic barrels or nylon bags.

“We came here with my friends to slide. We are sliding on snow in July,” said 10-year-old Aryen Filiz, who lives in the Diyarbakır province and visits his grandfather in Yesiloz during school holidays.

Filiz noted that it is very hot in Diyarbakir and that she is enjoying his vacation on the plateau.

“I haven’t seen any snow in Diyarbakir this year. It is so hot that I couldn’t go outside. But here, the weather is cool and there’s snow. It’s beautiful. We love seeing the snow here,” Filiz said.

Resat Aslan said it is enjoyable to ski in a cool and beautiful environment.

“It’s July. Mersin and Antalya (provinces) must be hot now, but we are sliding on snow here,” Aslan said.

Adem Aslan noted that in some provinces, people cannot even leave their homes because of the heat, and that it is a pleasant feeling to ski in thick clothes.

Erdal Aslan, a livestock farmer in the area, has taken his nephews to the plateau to ski, and said they take a minibus from the village to a certain point and then walk to the plateau.

He added that they take the children to the plateau every year to enjoy nature and the snow.

“Here, the children have fun in the snow and enjoy skiing. We do livestock farming and sometimes bring our children here for a different activity to let them ski on the snow.”

* Writing by Seda Sevencan