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| Mersin |
Mersin comprises a very long seashore on the eastern end of the Mediterranean and ranks as
the area least affected by pollution along this sea, itself the rising star of world tourism.
Mersin is a city and surroundings with long beaches, enchanting inlets and the Taurus
Mountains rising just behind it.
In his extensive study titled, “Mediterranean”, Fernand Braudel, historian and expert on the
Mediterranean, says:
“What is the Mediterranean? A thousand and one things, all together. Not just one kind of
scenery, but innumerable sceneries. Not just one sea, but many seas one after the other. Not
just one civilisation, but many civilisations one on top of the other.”
The plains of his sun-kissed city are resplendent with some of the best lemon and orange
groves of Turkey and its countless vineyards curl up into the low foothills of the mountains.
For four thousand years the local populations of this area have been migrating throughout the
Mediterranean area, and this adventure continues to live on even today as the Yörük nomads
and their herds hold tightly to their tradition of migrating between the foothills and the
summits of the Taurus Mountains.
For most of the year, when the tourists lying on the sand under the burning Mediterranean
sun happen to look up, they see the snow capped summits of the Taurus Mountains. In
between them there are the evergreen vegetable gardens and orchards, followed by the pine
forests and meadows. A vast scenery extending from the blue sea to the white mountain
tops.
Mersin is a provincial capital and one of the livelier cities of Turkey. While the daily life in
these parts has the slow pace typical of the Mediterranean, it suddenly gets livelier once you
reach Mersin. Market places and shopping districts are lively and crowded at all times of the
day.
Mersin is a fast-growing city that has managed to allow its industry, agriculture and tourism
to coexist. It is also a port and the agricultural and industrial products of the fertile Çukurova
plain are exported Mersin. The port is also the place through which the imports needed by
agriculture and industry enter into Turkey.
The Mediterranean has historically been an important seaway.
This sea had all the conditions necessary for becoming a seaway and that is how it turned to
be. However this suitability does not mean that it is a peaceful sea. Since ancient times it has
always been known that it can spring surprises.
In the 7th century B.C., in his poem “Works and Days”, Hesiod called on his brother, who had
rural origins like the poet himself, but earned his living as a mariner, in the following way:
”When it is winter and there are unfavourable winds blowing from all sides, instead of
venturing out to the wine coloured sea, till your fields. Ground your boat and surround it with
stones (...) roll up your sails carefully, hang up your rudder on a corner of your fireplace and
wait until it is once more season for sailing.”
Also the famous Genoese admiral Andrea Doria did not reflecyt great trust in the
Mediterranean when he said: “There are three ports in the Mediterranean: Carthage, June and
July.”
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