As the rest of the country prepares for the coming of spring, the people of the southeastern province of Hakkari demonstrated over the weekend their desire for the continuation of winter with a snow festival. Hakkari is located on the border with Iran and Iraq.

The event held to promote the province's potential as a winter sports destination was at the Merga Bütan Skiing Center. Under the governor's office's coordination and support from other relevant state agencies, some 5,000 people gathered to celebrate the snow and winter.

Governor Cüneyit Orhan Toprak, speaking at the festival, said Hakkari's mountains retained their snow at this time of the year, arguing that with sufficient investment and security, the province had the potential to become prosperous. Toprak said many winter sports centers across Turkey were forced to close shop in mid-March, while in Hakkari, the snow season continued.

With 2 meters of snow, the region could serve guests until the end of April, he said.

The festival featured traditional dances, skiing and snowboarding shows, an ice sculpture exhibition, rafting, Turkish and Kurdish concerts and games.