Erdemli

Erdemli is a municipality and district of Mersin Province, Turkey. Its area is 2,279 km2, and its population is 151,928 (2022). It is  west of the city of Mersin.

Geography
Erdemli is located between the districts of Mezitli (to the east) and Silifke (to the west). 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 (half the land area of the district) is high mountain above the treeline.

Erdemli is a quiet rural district where the people are conservative, and is traditionally a stronghold of Turkish nationalist politicians; however some departments of Mersin University are opening branches here which will surely have an effect on the cultural and social life of Erdemli in the future. There is no industry except some hand-weaving of rugs so the local economy depends 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.

Places of interest
 Akkale (in the modern village of Tırtar) - 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 (13th century) tomb and there are many more remains from antiquity in the area.

Composition
There are 71 neighbourhoods in Erdemli District:

 Adnan Menderes
 Akdeniz
 Akpınar
 Alata
 Alibeyli
 Arpaçbahşiş
 Arslanlı
 Ayaş
 Aydınlar
 Barbaros
 Batısandal
 Çamlı
 Çerçili
 Çeşmeli
 Çiftepınar
 Çiriş
 Dağlı
 Doğusandal
 Elbeyli
 Elvanlı
 Esenpınar
 Evdilek
 Fakılı
 Fatih
 Gücüş
 Güneyli
 Güzeloluk
 Hacıalanı
 Hacıhalilarpaç
 Harfilli
 Hüsametli
 İlemin
 Karaahmetli
 Karahıdırlı
 Karakeşli
 Karayakup
 Kargıcak
 Kargıpınarı
 Kayacı
 Kızılen
 Kızkalesi
 Kocahasanlı
 Koramşalı
 Kösbucağı
 Kösereli
 Koyuncu
 Kuşluca
 Küstülü
 Limonlu
 Merkez
 Pınarbaşı
 Şahna
 Sarıkaya
 Sarıyer
 Sinap
 Sıraç
 Sorgun
 Tabiye
 Tapureli
 Tırtar
 Tömük
 Toros
 Tozlu
 Türbe
 Üçtepe
 Üzümlü
 Veyselli
 Yağda
 Yarenler
 Yeniyurt
 Yüksek

Gallery

References

External links

 District governor's official website 
 District municipality's official website 
 Erdemli
 Mersin University
 Mersin haberleri

 
Populated places in Erdemli District
Populated coastal places in Turkey
Districts of Mersin Province
Metropolitan district municipalities in Turkey