Dalyan is not by the sea, but very close, and has many lakes. The village is located across a natural fresh water channel connecting Lake Köyceğiz to the Mediterranean Sea through a 10 km labyrinth intensively inhabited with reeds.

Dalyan natural fresh water channel features rare ecological characteristics such as the dens and high reeds filtering the water, some 150 birds species nesting among the reeds, endemic Liquid Amber Orientalis trees, sponge varieties, hundreds of fresh species, varios butterflies and plants and the endangered species Caretta Caretta Tortoises which are under strict conservation.

CARETTA CARETTA Let’s find out more about the Caretta Carettas…..

The cute sea turtles….Feeds on seassheals, sea horses, algae, sponges and tiny flora of the sea. Unsurprisingly, hospitable Dalyan is the most favorite Mediterranean resort for the Caretta Caretta.

An average adult would be 90-115 cm tall, weigh 70-160 kg with a Brown shell on the back and an orange belly. It digs a 40-50 cm nest and lays down an average of 80-100 eggs. She may try again and dig more nests on the following nights. This is such an astounding process that the turtle may burst into tears while digging with her rear legs. The tears help protect her eyes from the sand and also from dehydration due to her tiresome efforts. This turtle pace hard work takes hour.

The foxes are among the major predators of the turtle eggs. An instinctive reflex leads the hatchlings to crawl down to the sparkling beach under the moonlight. That’s why ‘lights out for the turtles’ regime is applied on the İztuzu Beach, after it gets dark.

KAUNOS ANCIENT CITY

According to tradition, the city was founded by Caunos who was the son of Miletos. The archeologial excavation reveals that it dates from 10th century B.C. The city which went through the Arcaic, Classical, Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantium periods, always had a harbor. One of the most breathtaking structures of the city is the ancient theather.

With its eastern part carved into the rock, it is an example of the Hellenistic architecture. On the other hand, on the northern side of the city the tombs carved into the step rocks are another attraction for the visitors. These rock tombs which were carved in 4th Century B.C., bacame the symbol of Dalyan. Inside the tomb chambers, there are two stone beds on which the dead bodies were placed. There are two columns ın Ionian order on the façade, a frieze and a pediment surmounting the columns. On one of the pediments the relief  of a lion can be seen. There is a gate behind the the columns which gives Access to the burial chamber of 6m².A tunnel was carved around the chamber into the rock bed. İt is now forbidden to climb to the tombs.