Terme Terme

Terme in Samsun province on Turkey's Black Sea coast is a small but historically notable thermal spa town whose bicarbonate sodium iodine springs, emerging at 38–44°C, have been used since Byzantine times in the verdant, rain-fed landscape of the Pontus mountains. The Black Sea region of Turkey, with its lush green hills, hazelnut orchards, tea plantations and misty mountain valleys, presents a dramatically different landscape from the arid Anatolian interior, and Terme's thermal springs are enriched by the high rainfall and intense vegetation of this maritime climate. The springs are traditionally associated with relaxation and respiratory comfort, in keeping with the region's long bathing heritage. The proximity of the Kızılırmak river delta, one of Turkey's most important wetland bird sanctuaries, adds a birdwatching dimension to any thermal visit.