Dalyan, Turkey

Dalyan is small town on the southwestern coast of Turkey. It lies just 25 kilometers away from the international Dalaman airport, set in the center of a broad delta where natural beauty remains unspoiled. It is an environmentally protected area, one of few surviving natural areas in the resort areas of Turkey. The local wetlands are home to a vast number of fish and other water life, as well as the many species of birds which feed on them.

In Turkish, Dalyan means "Enclosure of nets fixed on poles used for catching fish." Not many years ago, it was a small fishing village. A concern for the endangered Caretta Caretta Turtles and other wildlife in the area led to a campaign to list the area for conservation. Because of that, Dalyan has been able to retain its natural charm and beauty, and serves as a haven for quiet relaxation for those uninterested in booming discos and commercial hotel complexes. There are many restaurants in Dalyan where you can try the local cuisine, as well as a suitable compliment of bars and shops. There are few regular discos in town, so you're less likely to be disturbed if you want to retire early.

Dalyan is bordered by a wide canal, through which water flows between the Mediterranean and Koycegiz Lake as it winds its way to the sea via a small network of lakes and waterways. At the end of this canal is Iztuzu Beach.

Iztuzu Beach: Six Kilometers of Golden Sand

Iztuzu Beach is often accessed by boat from Dalyan, on river taxies which line its docks. After a leisurely boat trip of around 30 minutes, you'll find yourself on the Mediterranean Sea, with a fin sand beach stretching for six kilometers. You can also reach the bus by dolmus (mini-bus) which takes about 15-20 minutes.

Dalyan's Caretta Caretta Turtles

A Caretta Caretta turtle in Dalyan, Turkey The Caretta-Caretta turtle is designated as a threatened species on the Fish and Wildlife Endangered Species List. These turtles, with their large heads and reddish brown shells, come to Iztuzu Beach to nest from May to September every year. They can measure up to four feet in length. The turtle reaches maturity at around 15 years of age, and can weigh between 150 and 300 pounds. Adult turtles meet in Lake of the Dalyan Delta a few weeks before the female lays her eggs. Their mating ritual takes several hours, and you can sometimes hear the sounds they make.

The Caretta-Caretta turtle returns to the beach where they themselves hatched. The adult female may lay several clutches each season, and usually she will lay eggs every two or three years. Over the last several years, the residents of Dalyan have organized a festival to honor the Caretta-Caretta turtles. It takes place for three days at the end of June. Some local groups and famous singers of Turkey come to Dalyan for this festival. They residents walk on the streets with their old-style dresses, and put on music and dance performance and contests.

Several sporting events take place on the beach commencing on the first of July, with a variety of sports categories, the most amusing is probably the "oily pole" game. The object is to seize a flag from the top of an oily pole, while not slipping and falling into the water. During the night, they hold various concerts in the stadium, where you can sit on the grass or in the stand seats, and listen to the bands play for free. At the end, you'll enjoy a fireworks display.

Ancient Rock Tombs

The old Lycian rock tombs in Dalyan are some of the best examples of Lycian tombs on the Turkish coast. They are the resting place for the kings of Caunos. There are two types of tombs in Dalyan, from simple chambers to more elaborate temple-like tombs. Some had false walls carved into them to hide valuables and fool robbers, but this was to no avail, alas they have all been cleaned out of anything valuable. Some of the tombs are plainly visible on the cliffs overlooking the canal, from most any part of the town center.

The Ancient City of Caunos

The ancient city of Caunos grew on the border between Lycia and Caria as an independent city state. The city sprawled over a broad slope overlooking the sea and delta. At Caunos there is an Acropolis surrounded by the city walls, a theatre (which seats 1500 people), four temples, an agora, shops, a harbor, a Roman bath, and a cistern. Some of the ruins are still underground. You can visit Caunos at any time, by taking a ferry across the canal and walking for about ten minutes into the ancient city. You can also visit the ruins as part of a daily boat tour.

The Legend of Caunos

The king of the Karya, named Malletos, was the son of Apollo. He sired twins, a boy and a girl, and named them "Kaunos" and "Byblis."

The twins grew up together, and had a secret incestuous relationship. Byblis became pregnant, and their secret was revealed when she had a baby. In his anger, the king exiled Kaunos, who founded a city near the boundary of Lidya and named it after himself. The king humiliated Byblis, who was saddened by the absence of her brother, and she cried, eventually throwing herself from a hill to commit suicide. According to the legend, the canals of Dalyan were formed by the tears of Byblis.

The Roman historian and poet Ovidius told the story differently: According to Azra Erhat who tells the story to us from Ovidus, the legend about the foundation of Kaunos goes like this: Byblis fell in love with Kaunos. Byblis wrote a letter to Kaunos and told him of her feelings. Kaunos's reaction was very disappointing for her and he refused her with hate and anger. Then Kaunos didn't want to see Byblis again and left the country with his friends. He came to Kaunos and founded the city that was named after him. As for Byblis, she wanted to die because of Kaunos's rejection. She threw herself from a high hill but water fairies (Nymphs) rescued her and turned her into a river.

Therapeutic Sulphur Springs and Mud Baths of Dalyan

Dalyan has many therapeutic hot springs. The waters, which contain radioactive elements and sulphur, are believed to cure rheumatism, skin, liver, spleen and bowel complaints, as well as being beneficial for nervous and digestive disorders. The Sultaniye Thermal Bath, famous throughout Turkey, has been visited since Hellenistic times. The mud baths are also said to remedy rheumatism as well as cleanse and beautify skin. Once you have covered yourself in the mud, you wait for few minutes to dry it, then clean yourself in the sulfur pool.