"Salahtaşı".. How an Unknown Rock in Turkey Became a Tourist Destination
A photo of Mohamed Salah sitting on a rock on a Trabzon plateau has turned the spot into a tourist landmark bearing his name, drawing long queues of visitors and fans.
Egyptian star Mohamed Salah, Trabzonspor's forward, has turned a simple rock on a plateau near Trabzon into a tourist attraction drawing long queues of visitors and fans, after he posted a photo of himself sitting on it during a visit to the region.
How it all began
Salah shared a photo on social media showing him sitting on a rock on the "Kürtdere" mountain plateau in Trabzon province, northeastern Turkey, an area known for its mountains, forests and highland resorts. The rock had not previously been a known landmark or notable tourist destination.
"Salahtaşı": a new name on the map
The photo quickly spread among Trabzonspor fans and Salah's admirers, prompting large numbers of visitors to head to the spot in search of the very rock, hoping to recreate the same pose as the Egyptian star. Locals have named the rock "Salahtaşı" (Salah's stone, in Turkish), while the surrounding plateau is now referred to as "Salah Yaylası" (Salah Plateau).
A major influx of visitors
The site has seen a notable surge in visitors, with people seen queuing up to sit on the rock and take souvenir photos — a scene that reflects just how popular Salah has become among Trabzonspor fans since joining the club from Liverpool this summer.
