TUZLA BAY

Tuzla Koyu is 2.5 nautical miles E of Koyun Burnu, which is marked on the chart with a lighthouse. This bay is in the shape of a deep inlet that extends E. You need to pay heed to the small islet as yojnter the bay. The Karamuk Kayaliklari are situated at t e other point, and it is difficult to make out these shoals on the surface of the water. Small boats can drop anchor in the lake at the end of Tuzla Koyu and tie up on shore facing E. Though Tuzla Koyu is very calm and is closed off from winds, it does get an occasional gust in from the NE. Once entering, you can moor in any of several coves inside the bay. After tying up your vessel in the S quadrant of the bay, swimming in the crystal-clear water is a pleasure in itself. You cannot steer between the mainland and the small island in front of the bay, however, you can maneuver around either side of the island, which is in the middle.

There is the Tuz Gölü (Salt Lake) to the left of the entrance to Tuzla Koyu, and it is because of Tuz Gölü that this place was named ‘Tuzla Koyu.’ Today, sea water mixes with that of Tuz Gölü rendering it unsuitable for extracting the sun-dried salt. The area which was scorched during the forest fires that raged through here four years ago can be seen in a naked and melancholy manner. The conflagration wiped out all the laurel trees in the bay, whereas the leaves of these trees were harvested and sold commercially, Styrax and pine trees are found at the very back of the bay. Although the right side of the bay is a blackened hulk, the left side was spared from the fire, which puts a smile on our face. The mud at the bottom of the bay is of a consistency that does not hold anchors. Moreover, vessels cannot enter and cannot drop anchor in the inner part of Tuzla Koyu, which is a natural bay.