Mount Cilo

Source: TOI

Context: Glaciers of Mount Cilo in southeastern Turkey have lost nearly 50% of their ice cover in 40 years, with climate change and heatwaves accelerating melt rates.

About Mount Cilo:

• Location:

• Mount Cilo is the second-highest peak in Turkey, rising to 4,135 meters at its summit Reşko (also called Gelyaşin or Uludoruk). It is situated in the Yüksekova district of Hakkâri Province, bordering Iraq, and lies within the East Taurus Mountains (Doğu Toroslar) in Eastern Anatolia.

• Mount Cilo is the second-highest peak in Turkey, rising to 4,135 meters at its summit Reşko (also called Gelyaşin or Uludoruk).

• It is situated in the Yüksekova district of Hakkâri Province, bordering Iraq, and lies within the East Taurus Mountains (Doğu Toroslar) in Eastern Anatolia.

• Physical Features:

• It spans 30 km in length, forming the western arm of the Cilo-Sat Mountains National Park, declared in 2020. The massif has rugged topography with sharp ridges, steep limestone cliffs, deep gorges, and glacial valleys. Nearby is Suppa Durek (Erinç Tepe), Turkey’s third-highest peak at 4,116 meters.

• It spans 30 km in length, forming the western arm of the Cilo-Sat Mountains National Park, declared in 2020.

• The massif has rugged topography with sharp ridges, steep limestone cliffs, deep gorges, and glacial valleys.

• Nearby is Suppa Durek (Erinç Tepe), Turkey’s third-highest peak at 4,116 meters.

• Glacial Retreat:

• The region has seen rapid glacier loss due to global warming, with visual signs like ice blocks flowing into streams and receding ice sheets. Experts report half of the continuous snow and ice cover has vanished since the 1980s. Melting glaciers now feed torrents and waterfalls more intensely, altering water cycles.

• The region has seen rapid glacier loss due to global warming, with visual signs like ice blocks flowing into streams and receding ice sheets.

• Experts report half of the continuous snow and ice cover has vanished since the 1980s.

• Melting glaciers now feed torrents and waterfalls more intensely, altering water cycles.

• Climate Extremes:

• Turkey has faced rising heatwaves and reduced rainfall. Silopi, just 200 km away, recorded 50.5°C in July 2025 — the hottest ever in Turkey. UN projections warn of 30% less rainfall and 5–6°C temperature rise by 2100 in the region.

• Turkey has faced rising heatwaves and reduced rainfall.

• Silopi, just 200 km away, recorded 50.5°C in July 2025 — the hottest ever in Turkey.

• UN projections warn of 30% less rainfall and 5–6°C temperature rise by 2100 in the region.