Datça Peninsula

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Datça or Reşadiye Peninsula, formerly called the Dorian Peninsula or the Cnidos Peninsula (Chersonisos Cnidia), is an 80 km-long, narrow peninsula in Muğla province, southwestern Turkey, separating the Gulf of Gökova (to the north) from the Gulf of Hisarönü.

The north coast is low, with vast beaches swept by the meltem winds in the summer. The south coast is dramatically rocky and indented. Because of the natural beauty of its many bays and harbors, the peninsula is often visited by private yachts, and is included in the boat tours usually departing from Bodrum or Marmaris.

The western end of the peninsula was called the Triopian Promontory (also Triopium) in antiquity (after Triopas, the legendary founder of Knidos), and the far tip is Deveboynu Burnu (formerly Cape Crio/Kriyo).

The modern city of Datça is located at its half-way point. The ancient city of Knidos was originally located near Datça, but moved to the western tip in about 360 BC.

[edit] Names

It was called the Dorian Peninsula because it was settled by Dorian colonists from the Peloponnese.

The name Reşadiye honored the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed V Reşad but it is rarely used now.

[edit] References

• John Freely, The Western Shores of Turkey: Discovering the Aegean and Mediterranean Coasts, Tauris Parke, 2004. ISBN 1-850-43618-5.
• Atlas Antiquus: Taschenatlas der alten Welt, Justus Perthes, 10th ed., 1905.
• Turquie: Guide-Atlas Denoel; Voyages et Civilisations, Denoel, 1973.