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Story of Aspendos

There is also a well-known legend of the ancient city of Aspendos, which is home to one of the best-preserved ancient theaters in the world. That legend can be summed up as follows:

During the Roman period, the King of Aspendos had an incredibly beautiful daughter named Belkıs. The two famous architects of the city were in love with the king's daughter Belkıs. Since the king cannot decide which groom candidate to marry his daughter, he organized a competition. He calls the architects and tells them, “Whoever of you makes a useful and beautiful building for Aspendos city, my daughter will marry him.” After a long study, the architects presented their buildings to the king.

One of the architects-built aqueducts in the city to meet the city's water needs. The other made the magnificent Aspendos Theater (Aspendos Tiyatrosu). The king had difficulties to take a decision before these magnificence buildings and decided to try another way to find out who loved his daughter the most. This time he told the architects, “You both made especially useful buildings, therefore I will keep my promise and cut my daughter in half. I will marry one half of her to one of you and the other half to the other”. One of the architects did not agree to have beautiful Belkıs cut and said that he had given up marrying Belkıs. Thinking that the architect who loved too much so as not to consent to his daughter’s being cut is the right person, the King married his daughter to the architect who did not want Belkıs to be cut. Another belief is that the king cut his daughter into two and that's why there is a half-girl statue in the Aspendos Theater.

Yanartaş (Chimera) Legend

Yanartaş is in Çıralı, near the Olympos Ancient City (Olympos Antik Kenti), in Kemer district. It is the name given to the flames of methane gas that comes out from the holes of the rocks on the hill and burns continuously. These fires on the mountain that have not gone out for a thousand of years have created their own legends in mythology. In ancient times, Yanartaş Region was an important cult center for Hephaistos (Blacksmith God, God of Fires).

According to the legend told by Homer, the underground God Typhon and Ekhidna came together and gave birth to Chimaera (Khimaira). Chimaira is a three-headed creature, one of which is a lion, the other a goat, and the third is a snake or dragon breathing flames that is not of human race, and it wreaked havoc on Lycia. Upon the order of the Lycian King Iobates, the famous Corinthian hero Bellerophontes went with his flying horse Pegasos and killed Chimaira. Even after Khimaira died, flames were still coming out of his mouth. This is told as the legend of Yanartaş under name "Unquenchable Fire of Lycia". This legend is the reason why the region is called Chimaera/Khimaira.

This is not the only known legend about Yanartaş. You can listen to other legends on the spot by going to the region!

Waterfalls

Kurşunlu

Located 20 km northeast of Antalya city center, Kurşunlu Waterfall (Kurşunlu Şelalesi) is a natural wonder falling from 18 meters height, among pine trees with a rich flora, 33 hectares area. The waterfall is in a two-kilometer canyon where seven small ponds are connected by small waterfalls.

The rich flora and fauna around it make it one of the priority locations for activities such as hiking and observing plants and animals. It is possible to encounter rabbits, squirrels, woodpeckers, turtles and other small animals while walking in the nature park.

Yukarı Düden Waterfall

Yukarı Düden Waterfall (Yukarı Düden Şelalesi) is in Kepez district, nine kilometers north of Antalya city center. Düden Waterfall (Düden Şelalesi) is also referred to as İskender Waterfall (İskender Şelalesi) and Yukarı Düden Waterfall in various sources. The waters of the waterfall come from two large carstic springs called Pınarbaşı. The water usually flows under the ground and surfaces near the waterfall. Dividing into two main canals after the waterfall, after nine kilometers, the Düden River (Düden Nehri) flows into the Mediterranean at east of Antalya by making a waterfall from a 40-meter-high travertine threshold.

Aşağı Düden

Located in the direction of Lara, eight kilometers from Antalya city center, the waterfall is also known as Karpuzkaldıran. It falls from a height of 40 meters into the sea via the Lara road, where the Düden River reaches the sea. The massive jet of water creates a cloud of fog over the sea. The Youth Park (Gençlik Parkı) located nearby is an ideal viewing point for the waterfall view. In addition, tour boats departing from the Marina in Kaleiçi usually come near the Aşağı Düden Waterfall (Aşağı Düden Şelalesi).

Manavgat

The 93 km long Manavgat River (Manavgat Nehri), which rises from the eastern slopes of the Western Toross Mountains (Batı Toros Dağları) and joins the Mediterranean and is fed by large underground waters, pours from the cliffs of about five meters and creates the Manavgat Waterfall (Manavgat Şelalesi). Hosting many fish and bird species (trout, carp, mullet, sea bass, rook, grouse, duck, goose, kingfisher, different types of herons, seagulls and so on), Manavgat River also has a rich plant variety and many tree species such as willow, sycamore, poplar, mulberry, elm. In addition, various nature sports such as rafting and canoeing can be done on certain stages of the river, which allows to experience adventure in all these natural beauties.

In Manavgat Waterfall, there are recreational areas (restaurants, buffets, sales units, resting places, toilets and viewing terraces etc.) where all visitors can visit and receive service from. Having a magnificent view of nature, the waterfall is located 76 km east of Antalya city center.

Uçansu

Uçansu Waterfall (Uçansu Şelalesi) is located approximately 60 km northeast of Antalya's city center. In this natural wonder in Akçapınar Village of Gebiz Town, the water coming from the Toros is poured into the greenery twice, each from a height of 25-30 meters, or in other words, it is filtered.

Dim Stream

Dim Stream (Dim Çayı) completes its 60-kilometer journey starting from the foothills of the Toros Mountains by pouring into the Mediterranean at the borders of Tosmur and Kestel Neighborhoods in the south of Alanya. Dim is a unique natural asset with its natural beauties along the valley it creates its air and water which is cool both summer and winter. There are many restaurants, cafes, tea gardens, etc. located on the edge of Dim Stream, which is about 15 km from Alanya town center. In addition to swimming and fishing opportunities in the cold waters of Dim Stream, there is the opportunity to relax on the water in the pergolas built on the slopes of the valley. In addition to the rafting, which starts from Ak Köprü location and ends at the end of a 5.5 km track, it is possible to discover the natural beauties of the Toros Mountains with jeep safari, ATV safari, bicycle and hiking tours organized in the region, and to watch the unique valley view integrated with green by visiting Dim Cave (Dim Mağarası) on the eastern slope of the valley!