MEDITERIAN

ADANA

Adana - the centre of Çukurova. An exciting city with a warm climate. Located in front of the green Taurus range panorama in the middle of a wide plain embracing the Mediterranean, this city is a wonder of nature drawing man to endless horizons.

Adana, one of Cilicia's major cities, is the cradle of many past and present civilizations including the Hittites and Ottomans and is now Turkey's fourth-largest city. Adana, which is said to have got its name from Adanus, son of the sky god Uranus in Greek Mythology, has a modern look and is situated at a convenient crossing of the Seyhan (Sarus) river as it winds its path to the Mediterranean.

ANTALYA

From these ramparts, we could only be left; a few towers in the city and towers near the Hadrian Gate, the big tower facing the harbour and a few parts of sea-port ramportsOne of two ramports surround the harbour and the other surrounds the city like a horseshoe. One of the towersmanaged to stand in the Kale Kpısı public square is being used as a bigban.The rampats have four Gates getting the enterace to the city.

Today the part which is “historical nucleus city” in Antalya and known as “Kale içi” is surrounded by two ramparts destroyed and was annihilated. The internal rampart surrounds  the harbour like a half circle.As a result of Restoration studies Kale içi became a tourism centre by its pansions,bars and bazaars. And the harbour was arranged as a yacht-part. Because of Kale içi Restauraion study The Ministary of Tourism was rewarded with Golden Apple (Tourism Oscar) by FIJET in 28th April 1984

Düden Waterfall

Aproximately 10 km to the city centre. The main orgin of the waterfalls falling down 20 mt alitude is in “Kırkgöz Mevkii” the lower Düden Waterfall is on the Lara road, 8 km from the cente.It falls to the sea from a Trvertine approximately 40 mt

ALANYA

Alanya is an excellent vacation centre with its widw bwaches , historical compositions, modern hotels and motels,countless fish restaurants,cafes and bars magneficent castle that that wellcomer visitors.a ploted on Anlanya Peninsula like a crown from 13th century,right along withthe impressive castle it is worth to see octagon KIZIL TOWER withmonumental goodness and peerless shipyard.

There are cafes and bars surrounding the harbour and botiques along with the harbour road at nights selling hand crafts leather, garnments, jewels,hand bags and colored pumpkins special to the region. If you like to discover the caverns, you certainly have to stroll DAMLATAŞ CAVERN. Etnopgrafia Museum takes part near the cavern. You can reach to three sea-caverns by boat FOSFORLU CAVERN with phosphoric rocks, KIZLAR CAVERN that the women had been captived by pirates and AŞIKLAR CAVERN.DIM CREEK VALLEY 15 km east of Alanya, is an ideal place to tae a rest in the coolness of its shadow.Alanya is exactly a heaven of sun,sea and sand that swimming is available in all shores.

KAŞ

Kaş is named by Teke Bey. This name is granted since the shore is in the shape of “KaŞ” (meaning “Eye Brow” in Turkish) and Meis Island is in the shape of an eye ball right under the “Eye Brow”. Evliya Çelebi, who was a famous traveller, in his Works, indicated that Kaş was a town and when he stepped into the Republic Square of Kaş, he decribed the town as “gorgeous” with sea view. Kaş became a village in 1776-77 during the Otoman reign. In the mean time, Gömbe valley became a village and both Gömbe and Kaş were administered under Elmali province In 1871, it became a town again. You take Klakne-Fethiye high way and take South and 10 km after Kalkan and take the road to Patara ,which is 10 km long.The painted ceramiks found in akrapol prove that the city existed in 5 BC.Patara opened its doorsto Alexander the Great enjoyed being an important port.Patara is famous because St Nicholas (Santa Claus) was born in here.You enter Patara through a door with three holes , which are assumed to have been carved in 100 AD.One of the most important buildings is the theater under sand.

ANTAKYA

SAMANDAĞ ÇEVLİK TİTUS TUNNEL
AND BURİAL GROUNDS
(THE ANTIQUE CITY OF SELEVKEIA PIERRIA)

The antique city is in 25 km. distance from city center. It was established as an harbour city by Selevkos Nikator within the oncient city site there are the remains of temple acropolis and necropolis. The city had on important role in mediterraneen commercial life. On the other hand flood water was always big danger for harbor, for this reasen during the reign of vespasion it was decided to built a tunel which was completed years lader under the rule of enather emperer Titus. The tunel is 7 meters high 6 meters wide and 1380 meters long. Near the tunel there are 12 burial grounds from roman times. The burial grands are also known es cradle cave (Beşikli Mağara).

ISSOS RUINS

It is the region that persion king Darius lll. and macedonion king Alexander the Great had stnuggled for in 330 BC. The site was established in Helenistic period and also surrived in Roma times. Today the remeins of antigue city and a lot of agueducts are still exist in the region

BAKRES CASTLE

The castle is just above a village of the same name. The road to the village is on the Antakya-İskenderun road, 27 kilometers from antakya. The castle is to the west of the road, on a steep peak amongst the mountains. Strabon the historian mentions a castle: if this is indeed the castle to which he refers, it is very old. The castle served first to protect Belen Pass. Later it served to protect the Seleucid capital, Antakya. Durinh the Crusades, it was the most important point of defense in the Antakya Principality, and control of the castle changed hands several times. In 1268 Baybars laid seige to the castle and captured it from the Temple Knigh.

KALKAN  

KALKAN is on the Turkish Mediterranean coast, with an average of 300 days of sunshine in a year. The area offers a wealth of fascinating historical sites and the magnificent view of the clean and clear Mediterranean.Kalkan is an old fishing town, and the only safe harbor between Kas and Fethiye; famous for its white-washed houses, descending to the sea, and its brightly colored  bougainvilleas.With nature still intact, and in the center of the wealth of the remains of ancient civilizations, Kalkan is the ideal resort for those who want calm and relaxation, enjoy the natural beauty of the cleanest seashore, of rough mountains covered with pine forests, and also for those who want to explore the remains of the ancient Lycian cities in the neighborhood.

Lycia, "The Land of Light", which is the first known federation in history, included the city states between Fethiye and Antalya, and its capital was Xanthos (Arna in Lycian language), which is Kinik today, 17 km to Kalkan.

BELEK

Belek is not only a tourist resort but also an important example of the characteristic habitat of the Mediterranean Region. Construction is carried out with care in order to give minimum damage and preserve the natural balance of fauna-floral life. Aspendos, Perge, The Kurşunlu Waterfall...
The region is a perfect miracle of nature and Aspendos is one of the most important sightseeing spots. One of the best preserved ancient theatres, the Aspendos has a capacity of 15,000 people and is the region’s best preserved still-standing theatre which is still used today. Perge is an ancient city which was built in 1500 B.C. It is a cultural heritage worth seeing for its high tower, city gates and column-lined road. Another miracle of nature is the Kurşunlu (Leaded) Waterfall with its 100 or more bird varities and secret cave which is popular with visitors. Belek is one of the most beautiful spots in the south coast which brings together swimming and golf… The region has some of the best facilities for golf lovers and the natural habitat is perfect for relieving stress and enjoying your vacation to your heart’s desire. It also has facilities for all kinds of water sports

SIDE

Strabo and Arrianos both record that Side was settled from Kyme, city in Aeolia, a region of western Anatolia. Most probably, this colonization occurred in the seventh century B.C.. According to Arrianos, when settlers from Kyme came to Side, they could not understand the dialect. After a short while, the influence of this indigenous tongue was so great that the newcomers forgot their native Greek and started using the language of Side. Excavations have revealed several inscriptions written in this language. The inscriptions, dating from the third and second centuries B.C., remain undeciphered, but testify that the local language was still use several centuries after colonization. Another object found in Side excavations, a basalt column base from the seventh century B.C. and attributable to the Neo Hittites, provides other evidence of the site's early history. The word "side" is Anatolian in origin and means pomegranate.

 Further on, to the east of the last big square off the arcaded street, lies a semicircular temple dedicated to the god Men. The cella of this temple was entered from the west by a staircase up the high podium. At the top of the stairs are four Corinthian columns. This temple dates to the end of the second century A.D. Between the arcaded street and the theatre lie the remains of an early Roman temple. Of this temple, which is of the pseudo-peripteral type, only the podium remains. The podium remains is ascended from the north by seven steps. In front of the cella rise four granite Corinthian columns. Because of its proximity to the theatre, it is thought that this temple belonged to Dionysos.

MANAVGAT

Manavgat is a large district centre, administrative borders of which starts from Çolakli and includes many different resorts like Side, Ilica, Selimiye, Sorgun, Titreyengöl and Kizilagaç. It is best known with its waterfalls but it has a lot more to offer: Five star hotels, rafting, paragliding and four-wheel safari... Several wild life reservoirs and many ancient sites like Seleukeia and Side... This is Manavgat, just another one of surprising hidden corners on the Turquoise Coast...

The first settlements in Manavgat date back to 150 BC. Manavgat was not a very important regional centre but was continuously inhabited due to its location on the cross road of trade routes. Seleukia, Alarahan, Etenna and Side have many remains from the past. Later in the Ottoman Era, Turkoman nomads settled in this region. Finally, in 1913, Manavgat was designated as a district centre.

MERSIN

Içel is an important port city on the East Mediterranean coast and present visitors endless possibilities with its palm tree lined roads, central park, modern hotels, nearby historical ruins and numerous beaches. The region’s oldest known name was KIZUVATNA, the Hittites called it QUE, and it was called KILIKIA during the Ancient Era. Subsequently, dynasties and kingdoms such as the Assyrians, Persians, Romans, Byzantine, Seljuks, Anatolian Seljuks, Sons of Ramazon, Sons of Karaman and the Ottoman Empire ruled over the region in turn, leaving behind traces of their rich cultures.

The Amasya geography writer, Strabon, who lived in the first century, describes Içel and its surround as Kilikia, separating it into highland and lowland sections. Both Kilikia regions shared the capital of Tarsus. The borders of highland Kilikia reached from the Manavgat River to Limonlu (the Lamus Stream) and lowland Kilikia stretched from Limonlu to the Amanos Mountains. These boundaries were not permanent, however, and the Roman Emperors kept redefining them with new maps. These two areas are now called Taşeli and Çukurova.

KIBRIS

CYPRUS island is an independent country located in the eastern Meditarenean Sea, 97 km west of Syria and 64 km west of Turkey AREA: total area: 9,250 km2 land area: 9,240 km2 comparative area: about 0.7 times the size of Connecticut COASTLINE: 648 km MARITIME CLAIMS: continental shelf: 200 m depth or to depth of exploitation territorial sea: 12 nm CLIMATE: Temperate, Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. The island provides a perfect climate for summer holidays. It is estimated that there are 300 sunny days each year!! TERRAIN: Central plain with mountains to north and south NATURAL RESOURCES: copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt, marble, clay earth pigment LAND USE: arable land: 40% permanent crops: 7% meadows and pastures: 10% forest and woodland: 18% other: 25% Irrigated land: 350 km2 (1989) ENVIROMENT: moderate earthquake activity; water resource problems (no natural reservoir catchments, seasonal disparity in rainfall.