Page 281 - 7. State Of Environment Report Of Türkiye

F.3.1.14. Saros Gulf Special Environmental Protection Area

Saros Gulf is considered as a large and natural aquarium by marine biologists and diving enthu-
siasts due to the rich fish species it harbours. Captain Cousteau dived in this gulf during his visit
to Türkiye with his ship “Calipso” in the 1970s and described it as “the Northern version of the
Red Sea”.

Saros Gulf and its coasts were declared as a Special Environmental Protection Area in order to
protect its geomorphological, landscape, ecological, floristic, biogenetic and touristic features
without deterioration.

Mediterranean type climate is dominant in the Gulf Region. The highest point in the basin is
Koru Mountain (385 m) located at the north-northeast end of the gulf. The only river feeding the
basin is Kavak Creek.
Saros Gulf, one of the saltiest parts of the Aegean Sea, is characterised by complex eddying cur-
rents. Due to these currents, it is a self-cleaning gulf.

F.3.1.15. Patara Special Environmental Protection Area

Patara Special Environmental Protection Area consists of Fethiye and Kaş districts of Muğla and
Antalya provinces and 5 towns and 4 villages affiliated to them. Patara is an ancient city belon-
ging to the Lycian Civilisation period, located within the borders of Kaş district-Gelemiş village in
Antalya province. The region is also an important nesting area for sea turtles.

The economy of the region is generally based on agriculture and tourism has started to develop
in recent years. Agriculture has started to be carried out with modern methods around Ova Lake
and greenhouse cultivation is widespread and orange fruit and vegetable production is carried
out.
In Patara Beach, a 7 km long and 25 m wide wet strip from the mouth of Eşen Stream towards
the east consists of very fine clean sands. This area is the 1 degree spawning area of Caretta Ca-
st
retta and Chelonia Mydas species of Mediterranean turtles. According to the results of the “Sea
Turtle Research Project” carried out in this area in 1992 in cooperation with the Presidency of the
Special Environmental Protection Authority and Dokuz Eylül University, the frequency of turtle
nests was determined between 2-19 nests/km.

Administratively, a large part of the Patara Special Environmental Area is located within the bor-
ders of Antalya-Kaş district and the other part within the borders of Muğla-Fethiye district. Ac-
cording to the archaeological researches carried out in the region, Patara, one of the oldest cities
th
of the Lycian Civilisation, was the main port of the period in the 9 century BC and was establis-
hed on a triangular shaped plain west of Kalkan Erendağı throughout history.

y During the studies carried out within the scope of the Patara Special Environmental Prote-
ction Area Biodiversity Research Project, a total of 373 seeded plant species belonging to 74
families in species and subspecies categories were identified. Of the 373 seed plant species,
343 species are new records and were identified for the first time in the region with this
study. In the region, 16 endemic species were identified.

y A total of 261 fauna species including 107 terrestrial invertebrates, 11 aquatic benthic macro-
invertebrates, 13 fish, 29 amphibians and reptiles, 76 birds and 25 mammals were identified
in the area. Six of the identified species are endemic.
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