Travel Guide Bafa Lake

Off the beaten track, this lake, which is 15 km long and 5 km wide, is worth a visit. Visitors who go on vacation in southwest Turkey usually choose to stay by the sea. Bafa Lake is therefore the perfect alternative for those who wish to spend a quiet vacation in an unspoilt lakeside setting. The ruins bring a mystical touch to the site. Mount Latmos and its fantastic landscapes in the background make you want to take a walk. As for the incredible turquoise color of the lake, it calls for swimming. Some areas are very pleasant. The water is cool, perfect in the summer heat. This salt lake was originally a gulf of the Aegean Sea, later closed by the sediment deposits of the Meander River. In its waters, sea bass proliferate and many species of birds pass by. There are several islets, which hide an archaeological site in an enchanting setting. The ancient city of Latmos participates, in the5th century B.C., in the confrontation of the Ionian and Persian cities. It knows a brief rise during the Greek and Roman periods, when it is rebuilt under the name of Héraclée; the current vestiges date from this period. Mount Latmos is linked to the myth of Endymion. While sleeping in his cave, the young shepherd Endymion is visited by Selene, goddess of the moon, who graces him with her love. Enchanted by this dream, he asks Zeus that this happiness may last forever and his wish is granted. He will remain plunged in a deep sleep and his nocturnal visitor will give him about fifty girls! In Byzantine times, hermits believed that Endymion, by contemplating the moon, communicated with God. Iraclia was an important monastic center until the 14th century.