19.02.2026 15:40
After the snowfall, the Başdeğirmen Waterfall in Kızıltepe, Mardin, saw an influx of visitors over the weekend, causing traffic jams for kilometers. Authorities and the neighborhood head drew attention to the increasing environmental pollution along with the crowding, urging visitors to protect nature.
After the snowfall, the waterfall in the Başdeğirmen neighborhood of Kızıltepe district in Mardin, where the water flow has increased, has been flooded with visitors on weekends. Due to citizens coming from surrounding provinces and districts, kilometers of vehicle queues formed in the area.
A 4-5 KILOMETER LONG QUEUE FORMED
Mardin Environmental Management and Supervision Branch Manager Ramazan Uçar stated that there has been a significant increase in the number of visitors this year, noting that a traffic congestion of 4-5 kilometers occurred last Sunday. Uçar emphasized the need to maintain the natural balance, pointing out that some visitors who had picnics left their waste in the area, and particularly highlighted that plastic waste does not decompose in nature for many years. He asked visitors to take their trash with them or leave it in containers.
A CALL TO "NOT POLLUTE NATURE"
Başdeğirmen Neighborhood Muhtar Ramazan Demir also noted that a large number of guests have come to the area, calling for nature not to be polluted. Demir expressed that a bad smell developed in the area a few days later due to the litter left behind. İlhem Manop, who visited the waterfall with her family, stated that the region became even more beautiful, especially after the snowfall, and said that the outdoor and natural environment is attractive to them. Derya Yıldırım, who came from Batman, expressed that she found the waterfall, which she visited for the first time with a nature walking group, to be more beautiful than she expected.
Here are the photos from the region;