 Foca
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Foca, which is 70 km. north - east of İzmir, is one of the most important centers amongst 12 Ion cities, established at Aegean coasts by Ions. Foca, besides its historical and archeological importance, is a mythological settlement whose name is mentioned in Homeros epic.
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History
One of the most important centers, established by Ions, who have established numerous settlements here, including Smyrna, and who are escaped from Dor invasion of Greece, is Foça. Antic Foça city is included by 12 Ion union, is at the Aiolis region. Foça, who took Antic city Phokaia name from "seals", was an important harbor and had an important naval forces at their era. Foça, had established colonies in cities at eastern costs of Marsala and Spain, Velia near Pastum and Alain of Corsica with its naval fleet. Foça had lived Persia, Alexander the Great, Genevians and Ottoman eras.
Phokaia city, which had entered into development period, beginning from 7th century B. C., had shown great improvement in sailing according to "Father of History", Heredot. Phokaians, who were using fast ships with 50 shovels and 500 passenger transportation power, were the first Helens who go for long sea voyage. They have introduced Adriatic Etruria, İberia and Tartessos to Helen world.
Climate
Totally Mediterranean climate is reigning in Foça. It passes as hot and dry during summers and warm and rainy during winters. It takes a windy sea weather from three sides. Average temperature of summer months is 26 degrees, and its sea water temperature is 22 degrees. Hottest months of summer are July and August.
What to Eat
Traditional Foça kitchen includes all of the meals, made at Western Anatolian coasts and Aegean islands with its general characteristics. In addition to this, some of Foça unique tastes cooked with fish kinds, sea foods, olive, olive oil, artichoke and wild herbs are at the following: Grilled Sardine, Fish with Yogurt, Stuffed Calamary, Stuffed Fish, Fish Soap, Fish Paça, Artichoke with Lamb Meat, Stuffed Artichoke with Olive Oil can be listed between meals of the region.
Great salads, appetizers and pastry fillings are prepared from herbs like arapsaçı, rezene, tarakotu ( iğnelik ), turpotu, radika, ısırgan otu, ebegümeci, wild herbs which grew up in Foça and environment.
Don't Leave Without
Seeing Stone Home monumental tombs,
Visiting Foça Islands giving shelter to Mediterranean seals,
Eating fresh sea crops
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Places Wich You Must See
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 Siren Rocky Place
It is mentioned in Homeros epic, and described as rocks to where ships who loose their way crashes. Biggest one of these rocky place, composed of islands which reminds like seal fishes is Orak Island Rocky Place.
Seytan Hamamı (Satan's Hamam
Tomb type structure at the feet of Çan peak, is known as Şeytan Hamamı (Satan's Hamam). It is 2 km. away from province center.
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FOCA ISLANDS
This is an island group, composed of six desolate islands in front of Foça. These are: Orak Island, İncir Island, Kartdere Island, Fener Island, Hayırsız Island and Metalik Island. There is a long bushy beach at the south coast of Orak Island, and also sheer cliffs with 80 meter high in Orak and Hayırsız, Kartdere Islands. Especially İncir Island is used as picnic area and beach by tourists and natives. Islands and surrounding bays, shelters one of the last Mediterranean seal colonies in Turkey.
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SEA FISHES
Friends of sailors of Foça, who did not leave sailors alone during sailors' struggles against sea for centuries, are sweet seals. Mediterranean seals, whose total number in the world is approximately between 350 and 400, are only living in Turkey, Greece and North - Western African coasts. Some portion of Mediterranean seals are settled in islands surrounding Foça. In spite of increasing tourism and fishing, they are using the caverns, coasts in these islands with the aim of bringing forth juveniles, to bring up their juveniles, to rest and sun themselves. Mediterranean seals, whose name is " Monachus Monachus" in Latin, needs to land, and signs of human on their residential areas annoy them. This specie is one of the 12 mammals who are under the danger of annihilation of its generation on the world.
For protection of Mediterranean seals living in Foça islands, it is forbidden to come near more than 2 miles to islands between Aslanburnu and Deveboynu Cape, also to come near more than 100 meters to Siren Rocky Places and Orak Island, on where seals are seen.
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