Göksu

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The Göksu (Geuk Su, Goksu Nehri, Saleph, Calycadnus) is a river in Cilicia (Turkey). Both its sources arise in the Taurus Mountains, the northern in the Geyik Mountains, the southern in the Haydar Mountains. They join south of Mut.

The river is 260 km long and empties into the Mediterranean Sea between Taşucu and Silifke. The delta of the Göksu, including Akgöl Lake and Paradeniz Lagoon, is one of the most important breeding areas in the Near East; over 300 bird species have been observed. Among others, flamingos, herons, bee-eaters, kingfishers, gulls, nightingales and warblers breed here. The endangered Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta) lays eggs here.

In 1190, on the Third Crusade, Emperor Frederick Barbarossa drowned in the river, then known as Saleph.