Description of the attraction
In the vicinity of Dalaman, not far from the place where the famous Dalyan River flows into the Mediterranean Sea, the town of Koycegiz is located. People began to settle in these places of unique beauty tens of thousands of years ago. One of the earliest settlements found in the vicinity of the city dates back to 3400 BC. Assyrians, Persians, Hellenes, Dorians, Romans, Ottomans lived and left their traces on this land.
Modern Koycegiz developed already during the Ottoman Empire. In many ways, it is not like other tourist centers. Here the number of the population practically does not change throughout the year. The city does not look very crowded in the summer months, and in the winter months it is not completely desolate, as in most tourist areas. Koycegiz is suitable for those who want to spend their holidays in a quiet and calm atmosphere, you can go here at any time of the year.
Koycegiz is a real water paradise. It is only necessary to go deeper at any point in the area for a couple of meters, as a fountain with spring crystal clear water immediately begins to beat out of the ground. Perhaps that is why the lands in Koycegiz are unusually fertile and convenient for use in agriculture. Plants receive moisture directly from the soil and do not wither even in the hottest days in summer. The valley is surrounded by mountains covered with amber and pine trees. There is no similar forest where similar trees grow together in any other place.
In the center of the city there is a square, from which neatly planned and clean streets diverge in different directions. There is always liveliness here, and with the onset of dusk, restaurants, cafes and bars open on the streets adjacent to the central part of the city. Tables are often placed right on the sidewalks. Despite their uncomplicated design, cafes and taverns offer visitors a variety of snacks and delicious dishes from all types of fish, meat and poultry. The prices here are much more attractive than in other tourist centers. It can be noted that in local establishments there is no separation between "tourists" and local customers.
The city has a picturesque full-flowing lake Koycegiz, widely known for its hot natural springs and mud baths. The lake narrows into a channel leading to the Dalyan River, which in turn flows into the Mediterranean Sea. It is believed that the sandy beach in the area is one of the most beautiful in Turkey. It stretches for as much as five and a half kilometers and reaches a width of fifty to two hundred meters. There is also a shower with changing rooms.
You can rent a boat and visit Prison Island. Previously, it housed a prison fortress, from which now only ruins remain. There is, however, a more beautiful name - the Island of Love. As the legend says, once on this island a couple of lovers were hiding from their parental anger, and they immediately died from a snakebite (this is the most common story about a snake and an island in Anatolia). In order not to confuse the sea with the lake, you should be guided by the reeds. It only grows in the lake.
The area occupied by the lake and the Dalyan canal is about 6,300 hectares. At the very end of the canal, there is a small lagoon filled with a mixture of salt and fresh water. In these places, the lake mullet lays its eggs.
The beach is a breeding ground for the caretta sea turtle. The river, buried in thickets of reeds, meanders into the sea, bending around the Lydian stone tombs of the 4th century BC.
Centuries ago, the valley was covered with silt and separated the lake from the sea, but they are still connected. The delta of the lake was formed by the sediments of the Yuvarlak and Nam-Nam rivers. A walk around the lake with a camera will give you a lot of pleasant impressions and excellent shots - rocks and forests, a rare combination of amber and pine trees are reflected in the calm surface of the water. In addition to walking, you can also go rowing, sailing and surfing. Even if you are not interested in such types of recreation, then going on an evening boat trip, you will definitely get great pleasure from the magnificent starry sky, and fishing fans are strongly advised to grab equipment and fishing rods. The lake is very friendly to anglers, and it's hard to leave here without a catch.
The thermal spring Sultaniye is located near the lake. The water temperature in it is about forty degrees. This is one of the most famous balneological resorts: there is a pond with healing mud, which must be washed off after 45 minutes in a pool with thermal water.
