Chimaera (or Yanartaş)
Near the small town of Çıralı, on a slope of Mount Chimaera, a striking natural sight reveals itself to the curious who have made the climb up to this point. Over a wide area about 100 metres long by 50 wide, small flames emerge from cavities in the ground.
An interesting discovery, which you can for example combine with the discovery of the ancient town of Olympos situated nearby.
Practical information:
The site of Chimaera (known as Yanartaş in Turkey) is situated in the municipality of Çıralı, by the sea, 80 km south of Antalya. Take the D400 road, which links Antalya to Finike by way of Kemer.
Leave the road at the Çıralı / Yanartaş (Chimaera) sign and continue for 7 km to the town of Çıralı. Follow the small road at the back of the village, which will lead you to the Chimaera car park.
GPS coordinates: N36.429285, E30.465154
Admission to the site is charged.
Restaurants and shops for buying drinks in Çıralı, as well as on the beach.
For the visit, plan on walking shoes or trainers as well as a sufficient quantity of water. At the weekend the site is busier.
You will reach the site in about twenty minutes' walk along the mountainside, by a path that is well marked and maintained. As the difference in height is considerable, a good level of fitness is needed for this walk, especially in strong heat. Take water with you to quench your thirst.
If you visit in the evening, take torches, which you can buy or hire in the village.
History of Chimaera:
These flames escaping from the ground are at the origin of the myth of the Chimaera. From Greek mythology, the Chimaera is a creature with the body and head of a lion breathing fire, a serpent's tail and a second head, that of a goat, on its back. Ravaging Lycia, the region of which Olympos is part, it is pursued by the hero Bellerophon, charged with killing it. To succeed, he captures Pegasus, the winged horse, and manages to kill the Chimaera with a spear tipped with lead, which melted in the monster's mouth and burned its entrails. The flames are said still to escape from the monster's mouth and rise to the surface...
These flames are in fact emissions of methane that catch fire on contact with the air. The methane comes from the decomposition of sedimentary rocks rich in organic matter.
Worth a visit:
Once you have arrived on this wide area of bare rock, you will quickly see the small cavities in the ground through which the flames escape. A little under twenty of these flames are scattered over the site and are visible from the sea, thus serving as a natural lighthouse for sailors.
The landscape is very beautiful; the contrast between the bare rock, the flames, the surrounding forest and the sea is magnificent.
You will also enjoy the superb landscape of the surrounding mountains and the view that reaches as far as the sea.
You will also notice, on the lower part of the site, a few blocks of stone from an ancient temple dedicated to Hephaestus, the god of fire, as well as the more substantial ruins of a Byzantine church. Only the upper parts of the church emerge, but interesting traces of frescoes with geometric motifs can still be seen. The absence of figures indicates that these decorations were probably made during one of the iconoclast periods of the Byzantine Empire (8th and 9th centuries). Indeed, during this period, the representation of persons (of icons) was forbidden.
Before or after this visit, you can go to the beach for a well-earned swim before continuing with the ancient site of Olympos, situated a short distance away! To discover the site of Olympos.