Late April 2014
Turkey is a fantasy-destination for us Greek naturalists. Many of our islands are just a few kms away; the thought of exploration across the straits is constant. And we have deep emotional ties with Anatolia; before 1922 many 'Asian' Greeks, the Rumlar (Romioi), lived here. A massive population exchange changed everything. So, "going back" to Anatolia is a pilgrimage. A major nature-oasis is the Delta of the Great Meander. I first visited in August 1989. Then I had stayed with the fishermen on Karina Lagoon...My first wild-travel adventure alone. Now a Greek-Turkish research team explores the Great Meander's waters and its fishes- what a gift for me to be part of this! I hope these snapshots share my excitement and inspire nature wonderlust. I really hope more people will work to protect these waters, within a world-class National Park.
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| The Great Meander near Lake Bafa; this part is impounded by a "regulator" - a kind of weir near the Highway towards Bodrum. |
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| Huge Grey-Mullet in the turbid waters at the Highway Bridge, Lower Gr. Meander. |
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| Prize-of-the-day: Knipwitschia cf caucasica, a dwarf goby, female. I had heard that the species inhabits the Delta, this one was found in the river's main stem below the Bafa weir. |
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| The endemic river fish - Vimba mirabilis - young fish; this one in the lower Meander within the National Park boundary. |
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| Aggressive catch of Spotted Sea Bas and mullet Lower Gr. Meander. |
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| A catch at about 10 kms from the river's mouth. Mostly Grey-mullet and a nice Carp, among others (10 spp). |
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| Majestic Lake Bafa. Formerly the river entered part to the lake and created these wetlands; the background is a sensational rock-scape - perfect for Anatolian Leopards...(now probably extinct). |
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| Dalmatian Pelican that was fishing in the river near our boat. A small colony probably still nests in the Lagoons, but numbers low. |
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| Formerly, a Greek village, the old Doganbey, on the lower slopes of Samsun Dag (Mt Mykale). |
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| The old Greek village hospital, later school. Now the restored National Park Information Center. Great job Turkey! |
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| The old fishermen interviewed by Kaan Yenice, Biologist. Here we learn about the massive "Granios" fishes that enter the river - some of them over 80 kg in mass!!! |
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| The "Granios" Argyrosomus regius. This small individual is probably from a fish-farm; it was served at the Karina Balik Restaurant. |
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| We work on a boat - the river is deep, turbid; what an adventure. Many many fish caught! |
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| The Great Meander - Buyuk Menderes. Along with the Evros and Axios it is one of the largest rivers entering the Aegean. |
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| The "Kaynak" (a warm spring) near Doganbey Village next to Karina Lagoon (photo by D. Zogaris). |
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| A Syngnanthid pipefish, probably in the genus Nerophis. Common in the vegetation of the lagoon and spring. |
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| Two potential competitors. The American Mosquito Fish and the local Killifish (females) at the Kaynak. |
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| At Karina there are about a couple of dozen palms that look like Phoenix theophrastii. Theophraste's Palms are one of the rarest trees in the Aegean - are they really this species? |
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| Fires have swept through and the southern side of the mountain overlooking Karina Lagoon have been burned but the Palms do fine. |
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| Phoenix theophrastii is an endemic palm of Crete and SW Turkey - look at the short flower stalks and tiny dates on these trees... please can anyone confirm this ID???? |
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| The river lower Meander, meanders next to the ruins of Miletos - a great nature spot for fishes and birds! |
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| One of my favorite fishes - "Yilanbalik" - the migratory Eel. Still common in the lower river and lagoons. |
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| The local Killifish, closely related the the widespread Mediterranean Toothcarp, now these Aegean fish are called by some, Aphanius almiriensis; this is beautiful male. |
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| View westwards towards Samos - barely visible at the tip of Mount Samsun. Karina Lagoon sparkles in peace. |
