Discover Altinkum

In the wider region around Altinkum lies the Göksu Delta, a landscape that brings together natural and cultural features. The delta’s landforms and materials include deposits from channels and floodplains, beach sands and dunes. This diversity makes the regional setting more specific than a simple description of the coast: natural landscapes and traces of history meet here in different forms. If you choose Altinkum as your base, you can consider the Göksu Delta a distinctive natural and cultural highlight of the wider region.

Protected status and a sensitive landscape

The Göksu Delta was declared a Specially Protected Area in 1990, added to the Ramsar List in 1994, and designated a first-degree nature reserve in 1996. It is a Ramsar site and an important wetland for numerous migratory birds. These dates record the sequence of its protected-area designations; together with the landscape, they shape the picture of a wetland of regional significance.

The dunes are particularly sensitive: species loss occurs especially rapidly in these habitats. The delta’s beaches are also ecologically remarkable. They are among the few areas in the Mediterranean where loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) and green turtles (Chelonia mydas) still lay their eggs. The dune habitats and turtle nesting sites reveal different aspects of this natural environment. 10 of the 507 plant taxa are endemic.

Birds in different seasons

More than 300 bird species have been recorded in the Göksu Delta to date. Numerous species use it both for wintering and breeding; some are resident there. Greater flamingos regularly use the area. These details illustrate different aspects of the birdlife: the diversity of recorded species, seasonal use, and species that are resident in the delta. If you are interested in birds, the distinction between wintering and breeding grounds offers a useful seasonal perspective.

Traces of the past in the delta and the wider travel area

The past is also part of the region’s character. Three mound remains within the Göksu Delta are thought to date to the Hittite period. In the wider travel area, large structural remains from the Roman and Byzantine periods lie in the dunes on the shore of Paradeniz Lagoon. Further remains are located in dunes near İncekum and south of Akgöl. Together, these findings point to different historical themes: a tentative dating within the delta and structural remains from two periods by the lagoon.

Walking and choosing where to stay

A day-long nature walk can be taken in the Göksu Delta between Paragöl, Dalyan and the mouth of the Göksu River. This offers a different timeframe from a stay focused on the landscape, birdlife or historical traces. Check current trail conditions in advance if you plan this day hike.

You can choose how to balance these interests.

Discover more destinations: Mut, Narlıkuyu, Kumkuyu Belediyesi, Atakent Belediyesi, Çivi, Koçaşlı, Çeşmeli, Kizkalesi.

Go to the main travel overview: Mersin.