Burçak Özoglu Poçan
Encyclopedia
Burçak Poçan, née Özoğlu, (1970) is a female mountaineer
and one of the first Turkish
women who climbed over 8,000 m.
Burçak
was born on January 4, 1970 in Ankara
. Following her graduation from the School of Business Administration at the Middle East Technical University
in Ankara with a BA
degree, she earned a MA
and PhD
degree in labor economics from the School of Political Sciences at Ankara University
. Burçak is currently a lecturer at the same university.
In 1989, she joined a four-year course for mountaineering during her university time at the Middle East Technical University. Burçak realized 1995 the first female ascent of Mount Büyük Demirkazık (3,756 m) in Turkey on the north face. She summited in 1996 Mount Elbrus
(5,642 m) in the Caucasus
, the highest peak of Europe
. The same year, Burçak climbed to the peak of Khan Tengri
(7,010 m) in the Tian Shan
mountain range, becoming the first Turkish highest climbing woman. In 1997, she was on the top of Mount Damavand
(5,610 m), the tallest peak in Iran
.
She became one of the first Turkish women to climb over 8,000 m when she summited Gasherbrum II
(8,035 m), the 14th highest peak of the world, via west face along with Eylem Elif Maviş
, on July 22, 2005.
Burçak took part in the Petrol Ofisi
sponsored Turkish expedition team to Mount Everest
in 2006. However, due complaints in her throat at 8,600 m, she had to give up climbing on May 15 and return to the advanced base camp for medical aid. She succeeded to make the summit on the second attempt on May 24, 2006, along with five other teammates, including two female colleagues.
Burçak is married to her teammate mountaineer Serhan Poçan
, who was also at the peak of Mt. Everest on the same day.
Mountaineering
Mountaineering or mountain climbing is the sport, hobby or profession of hiking, skiing, and climbing mountains. While mountaineering began as attempts to reach the highest point of unclimbed mountains it has branched into specialisations that address different aspects of the mountain and consists...
and one of the first Turkish
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
women who climbed over 8,000 m.
Burçak
Burçak
Burçak is a common unisex Turkish given name. In Turkish, "Burçak" means "Vicia".-People:* Burçak Caner, a Turkish author nicknamed "General" in Gameshow....
was born on January 4, 1970 in Ankara
Ankara
Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest city after Istanbul. The city has a mean elevation of , and as of 2010 the metropolitan area in the entire Ankara Province had a population of 4.4 million....
. Following her graduation from the School of Business Administration at the Middle East Technical University
Middle East Technical University
Middle East Technical University is a public technical university located in Ankara, Turkey...
in Ankara with a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree, she earned a MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
and PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
degree in labor economics from the School of Political Sciences at Ankara University
Ankara University
Ankara University is a public university in Ankara, the capital city of Turkey. It was the first higher education institution founded in the Turkish Republic....
. Burçak is currently a lecturer at the same university.
In 1989, she joined a four-year course for mountaineering during her university time at the Middle East Technical University. Burçak realized 1995 the first female ascent of Mount Büyük Demirkazık (3,756 m) in Turkey on the north face. She summited in 1996 Mount Elbrus
Mount Elbrus
Mount Elbrus is an inactive volcano located in the western Caucasus mountain range, in Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia, Russia, near the border of Georgia. Mt. Elbrus's peak is the highest in the Caucasus, in Russia...
(5,642 m) in the Caucasus
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
, the highest peak of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. The same year, Burçak climbed to the peak of Khan Tengri
Khan Tengri
Khan Tengri is a mountain of the Tian Shan mountain range. It is located on the China—Kyrgyzstan—Kazakhstan border, east of lake Issyk Kul. Its geologic elevation is , but its glacial cap rises to...
(7,010 m) in the Tian Shan
Tian Shan
The Tian Shan , also spelled Tien Shan, is a large mountain system located in Central Asia. The highest peak in the Tian Shan is Victory Peak , ....
mountain range, becoming the first Turkish highest climbing woman. In 1997, she was on the top of Mount Damavand
Mount Damavand
Mount Damāvand also known as Donbavand, a potentially active volcano and the highest peak in Iran, has a special place in Persian mythology and folklore...
(5,610 m), the tallest peak in Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
.
She became one of the first Turkish women to climb over 8,000 m when she summited Gasherbrum II
Gasherbrum II
Gasherbrum II , also known as K4, is the 13th highest mountain on Earth, located on the border of Gilgit-Baltistan province, Pakistan and Xinjiang, China...
(8,035 m), the 14th highest peak of the world, via west face along with Eylem Elif Maviş
Eylem Elif Mavis
Eylem Elif Maviş, née Koç, is the first Turkish woman mountaineer to climb Mount Everest, the highest mountain on Earth....
, on July 22, 2005.
Burçak took part in the Petrol Ofisi
Petrol Ofisi
OMV Petrol Ofisi A.Ş. is Turkey's leading fuel products distribution and lubricants company.It was established on February 18, 1941 as a state owned company to import, stock, refine and distribute petroleum products. On July 24, 2000, the company was privatized, and initially 51% of the shares were...
sponsored Turkish expedition team to Mount Everest
Mount Everest
Mount Everest is the world's highest mountain, with a peak at above sea level. It is located in the Mahalangur section of the Himalayas. The international boundary runs across the precise summit point...
in 2006. However, due complaints in her throat at 8,600 m, she had to give up climbing on May 15 and return to the advanced base camp for medical aid. She succeeded to make the summit on the second attempt on May 24, 2006, along with five other teammates, including two female colleagues.
Burçak is married to her teammate mountaineer Serhan Poçan
Serhan Poçan
Serhan Poçan is a Turkish mountaineer and a summiter of Mount Everest.He was born on April 11, 1970 in Konya, Turkey. Serhan graduated from the Middle East Technical University, Ankara with a BS degree in Mathematics...
, who was also at the peak of Mt. Everest on the same day.