Erdemli

Erdemli is a municipality and district of Mersin Province, Turkey. Its area is 2,279 km², and its population is 151,928. It is west of the city of Mersin.

Geography

Erdemli is located between the districts of Mezitli and Silifke. In the north, Erdemli is bordered by Karaman Province and in the south by the Mediterranean Sea.
The district extends from the Mediterranean coastal plain, the largest agricultural area in Mersin Province, to high in the Taurus Mountains where there is forest, and then a large area is high mountain above the treeline.
Erdemli is a quiet rural district where the people are conservative, and is traditionally a strong base for Turkish nationalism. The local economy is centered around on agriculture. The coastal plain is covered with citrus fruits, bananas, and various fruits and vegetables grown year-round in open fields or in greenhouses. High meadows in the mountains are planted with grain pulses and fruits such as apples, peaches, and cherries. At these altitudes there are also vineyards, olive groves, and fig trees.
This is an attractive forested coastal district, and Erdemli is now attracting investment in infrastructure to develop a tourist industry.
The coast is home to the endangered Mediterranean monk seal. The Middle East Technical University in Ankara has an Institute of Marine Sciences graduate school here, which has a biology group that monitors the seals.

Climate

Erdemli has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate, with hot, muggy, virtually rainless summers, and mild, rainy winters.

Places of interest

Akkale - the ruins of a large Byzantine building, possibly a palace, with baths, a water tank and large tank for storing olive oil.
Alata [Research Institute of Horticulture] Research Institute, also offers picnic area
Emirzeli - the ruins of an ancient city with traces of Hellenistic, Ancient Roman and Byzantine architecture including a church, a tower, water storage and houses.
Çanakçı rock tombs - a group of rock-carved tombs dating back to the 2nd century AD.
Çatıören - a Hellenistic city with temple of Hermes and necropolis.
Öküzlü - the foundations of an ancient city, with a basilica, water tanks and monumental stones.
Corycus and Kızkalesi - Findings in the necropolis inform us that the city of Corycus dates back the 4th century BC, in the 1st century they minted coinage here. The nearby castle of Kızkalesi Ghorgos was built on an island offshore in the 12th century.
Elaiussa Sebaste - founded in the 2nd century, but thrived under the Romans and Byzantines, the site includes a necropolis, theatre and waterworks.
Canytelis - occupied since the 3rd century BC, the site includes rock tombs and a Hellenistic period tower.
Kanlıdivane - an ancient city around a big sinkhole dating back to ancient Olba Kingdom.
Paşa Türbesi - a small Seljuk-era tomb and there are many more remains from antiquity in the area.

Composition

There are 71 neighbourhoods in Erdemli District: