Dalyan @ Travel Turkey

Holidays to Dalaman are famous for its many archaeological wonders and natural beauty
If you wish to discover some of Dalaman's history, you should make sure that the town of Dalyan is at the top of your sightseeing list. Situated on a river Delta, Dalyan is backed by mountains that are home to a particularly fascinating sight. ... March 4, 2011
http://www.travelbite.co.uk/travel-partners/articles/cultural-holiday/holidays-to-dalaman-...

Dalyan means "fishing weir" in Turkish. Bass and mullet and Sea Bream swim upstream from the sea to Köyceğiz Lake where another large town of the region, Köyceğiz, is located. The fish spawn there, and when returning to the sea they are caught in the "dalyans".

Dalyan achieved international fame in 1986 when developers wanted to build a luxury hotel on the nearby İztuzu Beach , a breeding ground for the endangered loggerhead sea turtle species. The incident created major international storm when David Bellamy championed the cause of the conservationists. The development project was stopped and the beach is now a protected area.

Life in Dalyan revolves around the Dalyan Çayı River which flows past the town. The boats that ply up and down the river, navigating the maze of reeds, are the preferred means of transport to all the local sites.

The beach is well known for the Caretta Caretta (Loggerhead Sea Turtles) which have existed for 95 million years. International animal protection organizations monitor and protect the turtles' nesting grounds in Turkey.

Above the river's sheer cliffs are the weathered facades of Lycian tombs cut from rock, circa 400 AC. The ruins of the ancient trading city of Kaunos are a short boat trip across the river.

The south of Dalyan on the Mediterranean coast, lies %u0130ztuzu Beach, near the village of the same name is a popular area for sunbathing and swimming. There are regular boat and minibus (dolmus) services to the beach. Visitors should be aware of the wooden stakes in the beach to mark nesting sites. The road route is particularly scenic, offering views of Sülüngür Lake. Iztuzu, Dalyan's turtle beach, was voted the best beach in the world in 1995.

Baywatch star David Hasselhoff is the co-owner and occasionally on site manager at the Gerders Ice-cream bar, which is situated on the main east-west road out of the town centre.

Visiting Dalyan iztuzu beach (Caretta caretta's beach)
Seeing Ancient Rock Tombs
Covering yourself in the mud