DATCA - Turkish Daily News

On the Datça peninsula in southwestern Turkey, where most of the bays have remained preserved and undeveloped, a new campaign is under way to make sure they stay that way.

The 52 bays, of which 10 are being used as residential areas, comprise 235 kilometers of coastline. The project, with the slogan “Live and let live,” reflects the hope that the bays that are currently unspoiled will remain so.

The Datça Tourism Association, or DACEV, the town's district governorship and the mayor's office organized a workshop regarding zoning on the peninsula. At the meeting, Datça Mayor Erol Karakullukçu said there was a conflict of authority over giving permission to build piers.

“We made an agreement with the supporters of the Private Environment Association (ÖÇK) and this pleased people. But since 1997 we have problems we need to solve concerning the marina and docking. We want the cruise ships that sail past us to stop here.”

Datça District Governor Mustafa Kaya said he was pleased that Datça was less developed compared to Bodrum and Marmaris. “Nobody is not pleased. No one is sad.”

However, he said changes were under way. “After the road to Datça is finished, everyone will want to move here. We must plan carefully. Because of this, we should resolve the matters concerning construction plans and the harbor immediately.”

During a workshop given by Önder K?raç, professor Numan Tuna, a lecturer in urban planning at Middle East Technical University, spoke of the ancient city of Knidos, located on the peninsula. People still maintained the lifestyles of a fishing community there, according to Tuna, “but unfortunately, we are facing a challenge with the harbor.”

 In the old amphora where ?skenderiye and Athens are located, products are made in Knidos and exported by ship. The harbor alone was not sufficient for the ships when they docked. Knidos opened the door to the foreigners, who bought wine the local people made and marked with their names and then sold it in their own countries, he said.

The Knidos administration taxed these exports. This continued from ancient times to the sixth century and stopped with the Arab invasions. “When we looked into the ancient areas, we found streets that were two to six meters wide, which is very narrow, in the Burgaz area. We found and protected walls from ancient ages. Our work continues,” he said.  

‘We are in competition with nature'

“We are emotional human beings. Nature is different. We are in competition with nature. One area of conflict is extreme usage. We must make peace with nature. Because of this, the administration has international politics and regional administrative departments. There must be a detailed plan and administrative principles.”