Kuşadası | |
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District of Aydın Province | |
The city center on a clear day
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Coordinates: 37°51′35″N 27°15′35″E / 37.85972°N 27.25972°ECoordinates: 37°51′35″N 27°15′35″E / 37.85972°N 27.25972°E | |
Country | Turkey |
Province | Aydın |
District | Kuşadası |
Government | |
• Mayor | Özer Kayalı (CHP) |
• Kaymakam | Mustafa Esen |
Area | |
• District | 224.60 km2 (86.72 sq mi) |
Population (2012) | |
• Urban | 70,143 |
• District | 90,652 |
• District density | 400/km2 (1,000/sq mi) |
Post code | 09400 |
Website | www |
Kuşadası (pronounced [ˈkuʃadasɯ]) is a resort town on Turkey's Aegean coast, and the center of the seaside district of the same name within Aydın Province. Kuşadası is 95 km (59 mi) south of İzmir, and 71 km (44 mi) from Aydın. The municipality's primary industry is tourism.
The city is situated along a gulf of the same name in the Aegean, with the island of Güvercin Ada connected to the mainland by a narrow passage on one end, and the mountain of Kese Dağı behind.
It is located 95 km (59 mi) south of İzmir, the area's metropolitan centre, and 71 km (44 mi) from the provincial seat of Aydın. Its neighbours are Selçuk from north, Germencik from north-east and Söke from east and south.
Kuşadası has a residential population of 64,359, which can rise to over half a million in the summer as a result of the large resort filling with tourists. This also includes the hotel and bar staff, construction workers, and drivers who are required to work in/for the restaurants and other services accommodating these visitors. In addition to tourists from overseas, there is also a significant community of foreigners residing in the area.
The name comes from 'kuş' (bird) and 'ada' (island), as the island has the shape of a bird's head (as seen from the sea). It was known as Ephesus Neopolis, in Greek (Ἔφεσος Νεόπολις), during the Byzantine era, and later as Scala Nova or Scala Nuova under the Genovese and Venetians.Kuş Adası was adopted in its place at the beginning of the 20th century. Today, citizens of Kuşadası often shorten the name to Ada.