Eastern Black Sea coastlands, characterized by heavy rainfall, humid summers and mild winters have the richest type of woodland, namely the Pontic, or Colchian forest, with hornbeam, sweet chestnut, oriental spruce, and alder trees and a rich shrub layer of rhododendron, laurel, holly, myrtle, hazel- and walnut. The remainder of the Black Sea zone is covered with humid deciduous forest, with oriental spruce, beech, hornbeam, alder, oak, fir, and yew trees and with oak and pine in drier parts. Coniferous species become dominant above 1,000 meters, giving way to alpine grassland above 2,000 meters. Pine, fir, oak, cedar, beech, juniper, and maple trees characterize the southern forests covering the central and western Taurus. Along the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts runs a maquis belt of with myrtle, wild olive, laurel, carob, oak, pine, and cypress.
Turkey is also rich in wild animals and game birds.
The wolf, fox, boar, wildcat, beaver, marten, jackal, hyena, bear, deer, gazelle, and mountain goat are still found in secluded and wooded regions. Major game birds are partridge, wild goose, quail, and bustard. Top Natural Reserves Turkey has a great variety of natural reserves. Hydroelectric resources are undergoing intensive development. A national electricity grid covers the whole country, including nearly all villages.