Gazipaşa | |
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Coordinates: 36°16′22″N 32°18′47″E / 36.27278°N 32.31306°ECoordinates: 36°16′22″N 32°18′47″E / 36.27278°N 32.31306°E | |
Country | Turkey |
Province | Antalya |
Government | |
• Mayor | Adil Çelik (AKP) |
• Kaymakam | Muhittin Pamuk |
Area | |
• District | 920.52 km2 (355.41 sq mi) |
Population (2012) | |
• Urban | 22,332 |
• District | 47,963 |
• District density | 52/km2 (130/sq mi) |
Post code | 07900 |
Website | www |
Gazipaşa (Turkish pronunciation: [ɡaˈzipaʃa]) is a town and district of Antalya Province on the Mediterranean coast of southern Turkey, 180 km east of the city of Antalya. Gazipaşa is a quiet rural district famous for its bananas, oranges and international airport of Gazipaşa Airport (IATA shortkey GZP). Gazipaşa district is adjacent to Alanya to the west, Sarıveliler to the north and Anamur to the east.
The district of Gazipaşa stands on a narrow strip of coast between the Mediterranean Sea and the high Taurus Mountains rising steeply behind (highest point the 2253m "Deliktaş". You can find prehistoric animal remains (shelled sea animals) at many locations in the mountains. Before these were the Taurus Mountains (Paleozoic Age) these peaks were below the sea. The coast road is winding Alanya, but good with four lanes in places making Gazipaşa easy to access from Antalya and Alanya. From Gazipaşa east the road is two lanes but in the process of being improved to four. It is 80 km to the next town Anamur which takes two hours to drive). The remote rocky hillsides are home to snakes, scorpions and other wildlife such as deer, rabbits, wild boar, wild sheep and badgers. There is 50 km of coastline, half of which is sandy beach and rocky stretches with small coves that can be used for swimming. The beaches of Gazipaşa are used as nesting grounds by loggerhead sea turtles. Construction is forbidden in these sea turtle areas.
The local economy depends on agriculture and the land of the coastal strip is used for growing fruits and vegetables, especially citrus fruits and bananas. The mountainous areas have many fruit orchards and in recent years a large number of glasshouses have been built to produce crops such as cucumbers, strawberries and artichokes all year round in both locations. Some grain is grown and there is also much animal husbandry animals in the summer these animals are grazed higher in the mountains. Gazipasa has a dam (Gökçeler Barajı). There is also some forestry and fishing but only small industry. The local council is controlled by the centre-right AKP. Its current mayor is Adil Çelik.