| Patara, Kalkan and Letoon
East from Ölüdeniz along a
rugged coast of bold rocks blooming with oleander, one
reaches Patara beach, an 11 mile stretch of pristine
undeveloped coast protected as a national park as it is a
breeding site for Loggerhead Turtles. Mountains punctuate
each end of the beach and behind the shore spreads the
Xanthos River Valley.
Rounding the mountains at the eastern
border, we reach Kalkan, a former fishing village now
supporting both yachting and land tourism activities. Kalkan
provides another town to explore with shops, markets and
cafes. From this base we can arrange land tours of the
ancient cities in the valley. These cities are rich in
history and mythology.
Patara served as the port for the cities
in the valley and boasts imposing ruins from the Roman era
including a theater, a monumental gate and a bath complex.
Letoon is the city of Leto, the mother of Apollo and
Artemis. Pursued by a jealous Hera, she fled to Asia Minor
and sought refuge at this site. The local shepherds tried to
drive her away when she sought water for her children and so
she turned them into frogs. The frogs still remain today:
sunning themselves at the bases of the columns of her temple
which rest in a shallow bog.
Continue onto Xanthos...
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