A simple, ordinary rock on the foggy Kurtdere Plateau in the mountainous Maçka district of Trabzon, Turkey, has quickly become a major international tourist attraction, capturing the imagination of passionate football fans all over the world.
This incredible global phenomenon began when legendary Egyptian professional footballer Mohamed Salah shared a casual Instagram photo of himself sitting comfortably on the stone.
The viral post sparked an unprecedented wave of digital excitement, which grew even stronger following his massive high-profile summer transfer to Trabzonspor, a local Turkish Super Lig club.
Driven by his immense global star power and a red-hot, dominant start to the football season, highlighted by a truly spectacular hat-trick against historic rivals Galatasaray, local excitement quickly boiled over.
Tens of thousands of ardent Trabzonspor supporters, curious international visitors, and devoted football fans began making the long journey up to the lush Black Sea alpine valley.
🚨The rock where Mohamed Salah sat has become a popular site for Trabzonspor fans to visit pic.twitter.com/uqErTMpHRF
— Polymarket Sports (@PolymarketSport) September 21, 2026
Long lines of eager visitors now form on the foggy hillside, with people patiently waiting for the perfect opportunity to replicate Salah’s exact outstretched pose for their own social media photos.
This massive influx has created absolute scenes in the peaceful alpine region, frequently resulting in significant traffic jams as long lines of cars, vans, and tour busses crowd the narrow dirt roads leading directly into the scenic highlands.
Locals and fans have affectionately dubbed the famous stone “Salahtasi,” which translates to Salah’s Rock. To properly accommodate the overwhelming daily crowds, local content creators and regional authorities officially planted a white metal signpost directly into the grassy terrain, prominently reading “SALAH YAYLASI,” which translates to “Salah Plateau.”
This one-of-a-kind signboard includes a distinct brand logo as well as a custom QR code that modern tourists can easily scan to determine the exact geographic coordinates of the now-famous rock.
The surrounding highland area has quickly adjusted to this unexpected economic boom, with makeshift food stalls, local souvenir vendors, and digital map application pins appearing overnight to serve the steady stream of visitors.
A rock that Mo Salah sat on has become a tourist attraction and marked as a landmark in Trabzon 😅🇹🇷
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 21, 2026
(via @cilingir61_61) pic.twitter.com/9FbrqaqnHC
The breathtaking alpine backdrop of green pine trees and flowing mountain streams lends a pristine natural charm to the bustling pilgrimage site. The craze has spread so quickly that Trabzon’s city council and mayor are actively pursuing an official administrative process to permanently honor Mohamed Salah’s incredible regional impact by naming a local road after him.
Travelers making the long journey up to see the iconic rock are in an ideal location for further cultural exploration, as the plateau is very close to the historic Sumela Monastery.
This ancient Greek Orthodox monastery, built spectacularly into a steep cliff face, is Trabzon’s most famous historical attraction and complements an exciting visit to the plateau.
Finally, this entire viral sensation perfectly exemplifies the modern power of celebrity culture, demonstrating how a single viral social media post can instantly transform an ordinary, empty patch of grass into a massive cultural hub and a flourishing, globally recognized vacation destination for travelers from all over.
Mohamed Salah has had an incredible start to his debut 2026/27 Turkish Super Lig season with Trabzonspor, establishing himself as the league’s top scorer with 7 goals and 2 assists in only 6 games.
Following his high-profile transfer from Liverpool, the league’s highest-paid player immediately transformed the team’s attack. Highlights include a masterclass debut start against İstanbul Basaksehir.
He is on track to match Burak Yılmaz’s club record of 8 goals in the first 6 matches, solidifying his superstar status and sparking unprecedented fan excitement in Trabzon.
