- Finike
Infobox Settlement
settlement_type = District
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = TUR
timezone=EET
utc_offset=+2
map_caption =Location of PAGENAME within Turkey.
timezone_DST=EEST
utc_offset_DST=+3official_name = Finike
image_caption =
image_blank_emblem =
blank_emblem_type =
subdivision_type1=Region
subdivision_name1 = Mediterranean
subdivision_type2=Province
subdivision_name2 = Antalya| population_total = 45.296
population_urban = 10.509
population_as_of = 2007
population_footnotes =
population_density_km2 = 69,2
population_density_sq_mi = 179.1
area_total_km2 = 655
area_total_sq_mi = 252,9
elevation_m = 3
pushpin_
pushpin_label_position =
pushpin_map_caption =Location of Finike
pushpin_mapsize =
latd = 36
latm = 18
latNS = N
longd = 30
longm = 09
longEW = E
postal_code_type=Postal code
postal_code = 07740
blank_info =
area_code = (0090)+ 242
leader_name =
website =
leader_name1 =
gwebsite =Finike (ancient "Phoenicus") is a district on the
Mediterranean coast ofAntalya Province ofTurkey , 90 minutes west of the city ofAntalya .Finike is located in the south of the
Teke peninsula, and the coast here is a popular tourist destination. However, Finike is best-known for its oranges, the symbol of the town.History
For centuries Finike, then named
Phoenicus was a trading port, the main port ofLimyra , the capital city ofLycia . Phoenicus was said to have been founded byPhoenicians in the 5th Century BC, and thus named after its founders.The area has been inhabited for much longer than that, archaeologists have found evidence near the town of
Elmalı showing that the Teke peninsula has been settled since 3000 BC (although on the coast nothing has been uncovered dating before 2000 BC).Trade along the coast was established first by the
Persians , who relinquished Lycia to the armies ofAlexander the Great . However the coast was always vulnerable to forces fromSyria ,Egypt andRhodes until it was brought within the empire of theAncient Romans and the succeedingByzantines .Even then the Byzantines were threatened by the
Arab armies ofIslam .Eventually the area was lost to theSeljuk Turks in the 13th century. These were succeeded by theOttoman Empire from 1426.Demographics
The district has a population of 45.296 according to the 2007 census. [ [http://www.tuik.gov.tr Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu] ] The town itself has 10.509 inhabitants. Finike has 4 municipalities(Hasyurt, Sahilkent, Turunçova and Yeşilyurt) and 14 villages.
The population of inhabited places are shown in the table(Municipalities are shown in bold)
Finike today
The local economy depends on agriculture, particularly oranges and other citrus fruits. This is supplemented by income from tourism in the summertime, although because of the lucrative orange production and the distance from Antalya Finike has not seen the large-scale tourism boom that has so radically changed the other coastal districts of Antalya. Finike is a quiet district where people buzz around on mopeds going about their daily lives. Indeed many of the visitors that Finike does attract are retired people in search of relaxation. A type of pale limestone is quarried at Limyra, and sold as a decorative building material.
The port of Finike is now a yacht marina, and has a small fishing fleet. The coast is rich in marine life including sea turtles and fish including local specialities
red porgy Sparidae andgrouper (Epinephelus ); other fish found along the coast includeleerfish Carangidae ) and the more widespread Mediterranean varieties such asbluefish ,sea bream ,sea bass , withswordfish ,sardines and others found further out to sea. However the coast suffers from overfishing and many varieties, including the porgy, are in decline.The beaches of Finike are an important nesting ground for the
caretta caretta sea turtles, and the rocky parts of the coast are used by the rareMediterranean Monk Seal . However they are in grave danger if the protection of these species is left to local politicians such as "Mahmut Esen", mayor of the town of Hasyurt in Finike, famous for his statement "well I've lived here for 47 years and I've never seen a turtle". [ [http://www.radikal.com.tr/haber.php?haberno=158271 Radikal-çevrimiçi / Türkiye / '47 yıldır caretta görmedim' ] ]Places of interest
*The ruins of Limyra are to be seen three miles east of the Finike, they consist of a theatre, tombs, Sarcophagi, bas-reliefs, Greek and Lycian inscriptions, etc.
* The ancient city ofArycanda , in a narrow valley off the road to Elmalı.
* The ruins ofTrysa with a carved frieze depictingTheseus , on the road toKaş .
* The cave ofSuluin .
* Wreck of a Phoenician merchant ship from about 1200 BC inCape Gelidonya There are doubtless many more places of antiquity that need to be restored.
References
External links
* [http://www.antalyacity.info/finike.php Information On Finike]
* [http://www.seturmarinas.com/english/marina.htm Setur Finike Yacht Marina]
* [http://www.finike.web.tr/ a local information website]
* [http://www.finike-meb.gov.tr/ Finike MEM]
* [http://www.finike-hem.gov.tr/ Finike HEM]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.