BODRUM To Gökova Gulf
Located at the east of Bodrum, Gökova Gulf is one of the most
attractive natural wonders of the world. Surrounded by the high mountains in the
north reaching 1000 meters altitude and dotted by great number of coves and bays
in the south, Gökova Gulf offers undescrible beauties of the nature. The gulf
covers the area between Bodrum, ancient city of Knidos and the town of Gökova.
The depth of the sea reaches nearly the depth of oceans and this feature gives
suitable environment for for great number of ocean fishes. Gökova Gulf also
houses many unexcavated archaeological sites.
Karada
Located 2 miles from Bodrum, Karada Island is frequently
visited by locals and foreigners, attracted by thermal waters and crystal clear
sea of the island. The island has a small church and a thermal bath. Many
visitors come to the island for mud baths and believe it beautifies the skin and
cures skin diseases.
Pabuc Burnu.
This shoe shaped peninsula is 6 miles from Bodrum and offers
great mooring possibilities for boats on the eastern side.
Orak Island
This small island, located 10 miles in the east of Bodrum, is
famous for its rich marine life and crystal blue waters. The island has a
notorious reputation because of giant rats. After Bodrum, it is one of the first
destinations for boat.
Kise Bükü
Only 3 miles from Orak Island, there is Kise Bükü, a name
originating from the word kilise (church) due to remains of Byzantine
Monasteries in the area.
Çökertme Bay
This small hamlet, mentioned in the local folk songs, is an
important stopover before or after crossing the Gökova Gulf. Çökertme Bay
takes its name from the small village. Çökertme Bay is a suitable bay,
situated between Kepce Burnu and Karaburun and sheltered place for spending the
night. It is well known by the boatmen because of fact it protect the boats
against the winds especially those winding west-north and west-east direction.
Çökertme coastline is long and pine and olive trees start right from the
coastline. Local restaurants with reasonable prices offer fine food to boat
people. Night time, there is even belly dancing entertaining visitors.
Gökova Thermal Energy Plants
Between Çökertme and Akbük, visitors are disturbed by the
ugly sight of Thermal Energy Plant.
Ceramus
Ancient Ceramus or Oren of present day offers bad anchorage
but reasonable prices for food and accommodation. Visitors notice various ruins
dating to Greek, Roman and Byzantine centuries.
Akbük
One of the most beautiful bays of in the Gökova Gulf is Akbük.
After Oren, Gulets sail towards Akbük which offer the least unspoiled fiord
like coastline with tiny coves. Impressive Kiran Mountain which towers the Akbük
area has young pine forest thriving on its vertical slopes. The beach with fine
restaurant is located there. Although Akbük looks very calm and peaceful, like
other parts south western Turkey, visitors to the area might have sudden,
troublesome gusts and squalls.
Cleopatra Island Sedir Island
Cleopatra Beach
After tradition, this was the meeting point Cleopatra and Mark
Antony. You can still visit the remains of a horse shoe shaped theatre and Greek
and Roman ruins. This is one of the most beautiful and crowded beaches in
Turkey. It is suggested that the fine sand of the beach was brought from river
Nile form Egypt. The Sedir Islands or Islands of Cedrea which were resort area
of Roman times, is crowded due to big crowds coming from Marmaris.
Sögüt
Most suitable and logical place for anchorage after Cedreae is
Sögüt or KaracaSögüt or briefly Karaca. Karaca, which is 40 kms distance
from Marmaris, is one of the spectacular places of south western Anatolian
coastline. Sögüt area already attracted land developers who built fancy summer
villas around the bay.
English Harbor
According to locals, British naval vessels hid at the English
Harbor during the World War II. During the German Occupation of Greek Islands,
two British military aircraft including the skeletons of the pilots were
discovered by Turkish divers at the British harbor. It is suggested that these
two airplanes were shutdown by German anti craft guns form the nearby Greek
Islands in 1942.
There are six anchorage spots at Degirmen Bükü area. Nearly
5 kms in the west of Degirmen Bükü, there is Ballisu Bay, a perfect spot for
god anchorage. About 1 km distance from Ballisu, there is entrance Logos Fiord.
Known as Cargill and Golem Logos, small inlet surrounded by the rocks and trees.
This is one of spots where yachtsmen might have experience with bears.
Seven Islands
One of the ideal stops during the Blue Voyage is Seven
Islands. a secluded bay in the south of Tulsa. It is ideal spot for swimming,
snorkeling, fishing, sponge diving. Holiday maker harpoon fish and collect
sponges there. You can visit natural harbor of Kufre or walk to the shore to
have a promenade in the Gulluk Forest.
Bordubet Harbor
Bordubet Harbour, which is one of the safest and suitable
anchorage places, is located in the south of Seven Islands.
The Bay Of Büyük Cati, an excellent anchorage place
protected from all the winds, once was watering hole for the boatmen. The
remains of a church and some Byzantine ruins suggest the existence of an ancient
city there
Kormen.
Knidos
This fascinating city with two harbors in located at the
extreme end of the Datça Peninsula. It was one of the cities of the Dorian
Hexapolis. During the early centuries, Cnidos was situated little bit inland
near present day Datça. The city gained great fame due to its temple and famous
statues of Aphrodite, sculptured by Praxiteles. Famous sculptor, Praxiteles made
two statue of the goddess Aprodite, the first of these statues was nude
Aphrodite and the artist sculptured that for the island of Cos. Second statue of
the goddess had her garments on. But people of Cos who refused to receive the
nude statues of the goddess, they eventually accepted the one with the clothes.
Cnidians had no choice but receiving the nude statue, put it in the shrine of
the goddess. The statue became so famous and attracted great number of pilgrims
to Cnidos.
During the archaeological digs carried out by Princeton
University, the temple of Aphrodite was discovered. Iris Love claimed that she
had even discovered the head of the statue at the basements of the British
Museum and blamed the British for not recognizing the head.
In the 19th century British scholar Newton carried great
number of artifacts, statues and antiquities from Bodrum. This project was
helped by British Navy.
Cnidos was also hometown of Eudoxos, great astronomer,
mathematician who established an observatory in the town and discovered many new
stars helping the navigation of the ancient times.
Visitors to Cnidos are welcomed by a beautiful ancient theatre
by the harbor holding 4500 people. One of the paths leads visitors to two
Byzantine churches by the military harbor. After a short climb, one can admire
the fascinating round temple of the Goddess where Cnidian Aphrodite used to
stand.
Cnidus and Apostle Paul
Paul might have arrived to Knidus during his trip to Rome. The
Egyptian ship that Paul took in Myra led him to Knidos. Due to bad weather which
got worst, Paul's ship couldn't anchor at Knidos and sailed towards Fair Heaven
in Creete.
