Green Canyon (Yeşil Kanyon)

Mediterranean, Turkey 1 tours visit here

Green Canyon is a reservoir and gorge in the Taurus Mountains inland from Manavgat, in Antalya Province on Turkey's Mediterranean side. It was formed when the Oymapinar Dam blocked the Manavgat River, flooding the valley to leave a narrow lake between steep, pine-covered limestone walls. The depth and mineral content of the water give it the intense green colour the name refers to, and because the river is fed by karst springs the lake stays cold even in high summer. Most people see the canyon by boat. Excursions set off from the jetty below the dam and follow the flooded channel as it winds between the cliffs, stopping to swim in sheltered inlets; lunch on board and time for fishing are common parts of the trip. A cruise generally takes a few hours, and the canyon is often combined with the Manavgat Waterfall or the ancient city of Side, both a short drive away. The atmosphere is quiet rather than lively: no villages line the shore, the water is usually flat and still, and wild goats are sometimes seen on the rock faces. Boat operations run mainly through the warm months, and the lake's green tone shows most clearly around midday, when sunlight reaches down between the cliffs.