Foça - İzmir - Turkey
Değirmenburnu Lighthouse
GPS : 38°40'06.7"N 26°44'42.1"E / 38.668518, 26.745030
Focal Plane : 17 mt (56 ft), Tower Height : 9 mt (30 ft)
Character : W. FI. 5.0 Second, Flashing Character : 1.0+4.0
Visibility Range : 8 nautical miles
GPS : 38°39'59.7"N 26°45'03.3"E / 38.666595, 26.750923
Entrance lights : Fl R 3s 8M
VHF Channels : 16
Call Sign : " buyukliman marina "
PHOTOGRAPHS ALBUM
Foça is a town and district in Turkey's İzmir Province, on the Aegean coast.
The town of Foça is situated at about 69 km (43 mi) northwest of İzmir's city center. The district also has a township with its own municipality named Yenifoça (literally "New Foça"), also along the shore and at a distance of 20 km (12 mi) from Foça proper. For this reason, Foça itself is locally often called as Eskifoça (Old Foça) in daily parlance. The ancient city of Phocaea is located between the two modern Foças.
Fener Adası and Deveburnu Point is on the north of the eastern shores of Gulf İzmir. Foça town and the marina stand on the east of Fener Adası and Deveboynu Point. There are two anchorages divided by a finger point where ancient castle stands. The one on the north is called Küçükdeniz and the other one on the south is called Büyükdeniz. Fok Marina is in Büyükdeniz.
The smaller harbor to the north of the town, Küçükdeniz, is full of fishing boats and is not an option. Local fishing boats berth in Küçükdeniz.
The small bay of Eskifoça (Büyükdeniz) is operated like a marina. Most of the moorings to the east of the fishing boats are, however, occupied by local and tripper boats and it is usually difficult to get a berth on the quay. Four new piers have been constructed on the west side of the bay under the headland (next to the lighthouse).
Local boats and fishing boats have moved in alongside the piers and on laid moorings with no signs of management evident. Go alongside or anchor moor on one of the piers or anchor just east of the innermost pier, where the depths are 5 - 7 meters and the holding good. Depths in the rest of the harbour are 12-15 meters and the holding less certain.
Weather
The summer meltemi here blows from the NE but it is less strong than in the Central Aegean. In the winter months winds can come from either northerly or southerly directions.
Approach and Navigation
Approaches are straightforward without dangers.
Mooring
The small bay of Eskifoça (Büyükdeniz) is operated like a marina. Most of the moorings to the east of the fishing boats are, however, occupied by local and tripper boats and it is usually difficult to get a berth on the quay. Three new piers on the west side of the bay under the headland (next to the lighthouse).
Local boats have already moved in on laid moorings on the innermost pier and it is to be hoped that moorings will be available on the other piers soon. Otherwise, go alongside or anchor moor on one of the piers or anchor just east of the innermost pier, where the depths are 5-7 meters and the holding good. Depths in the rest of the harbour are 12-15 meters and the holding less certain.
The smaller harbor to the north of the town, Küçükdeniz, is full of fishing boats and is not an option.
Capacity : 150 yachts
Depth : There are 3 - 5 meters depth at the head of the quay. The depth in the middle is around 12 - 17 meters.
Mooring : Laid moorings tailed on the quay
Marina Services
Drinkable Water connections is provided
Fuel can be obtained from a tanker truck
Electricity connections is provided
Mechanical works can be carried out
Electrical works can be carried out
Laundry service is available.
There is a slipway, hauling is on sledge and runners - the old fashioned way.
Administration : Fok Marina is administrated by Foça Municipality.
CITY FACILITIES
Health : Hospital, Health Center, Doctors, Nurses, Pharmacies, Dentists
Shopping : Supermarkets, Stores, Markets, Shops
Accommodation : Hotels, Motels, Pensions, Rental Houses
Dining : Restaurants, Cafes, Buffets, Bakeries
Communication : Post Office, Phone, Internet
Hair dresser
Laundry
Bank
Beach
Entertainment : Discotheques, Bars
Special Shopping : Leather products, Carpets, Kilims, Copper-ware, Onyx, Şile fabrics
Public Market : Takes place on Tuesdays and Sundays (organic)
Historical Site : Siren Rocks
Repairing & Maintenance Workshops
Technical Equipment Shops
HISTORICAL SITES
Eskifoça is the ancient Phocaea. It is believed to have been founded by colonists from Erythrea and Teos in the 8th century BC. Phocaea soon became an important trading center and its fifty-oared galleys roamed from the Black Sea to the Western Mediterranean. The Phocaeans were great navigators and founded many colonies in the Black Sea, the Bosphorus, Italy, and further west. They were the founders, among others, of Massalia (modern Marseilles in France), Tartessus (near Cadiz in Spain), Alalia in Corsica and Velia in Italy.
Phocaea was taken by the Persians from whom they were liberated by Alexander the Great. In the Hellenistic times they sided with the Seleucids against the Romans who captured and looted their city in 190 BC. During the Byzantine era the city declined although it was the see of a bishop. In the Middle Ages Phocaea was occupied by the Genoese who mined alum, used as a dye in the tanning business. Finally the city was captured by the Ottomans in 1455. Today the town is a very attractive resort full of restaurants and a good market.
FISH RESTAURANTS
The town is spread along the coast with fish restaurants dominating the parts of the sea front. Foça is famous for its fish restaurants and at weekends in both Summer and Winter they are crowded with visitors from all over the area.
FISH AND SEA PRODUCT SPECIES LIST OF THE AEGEAN SEA
ENVIROMENTAL PROTECTION
Many parts of the district are under strict environmental protection, due to the value of the flora and the fauna, and the beauty of the small bays and coves, especially between Foça and Yenifoça. Therefore, a judicious way to get to know the district would be by boat tours regularly organized in partance from the town center. Because of the protective measures, new constructions are not permitted in many parts of the district and Foça is set to preserve its unique characteristic as composed principally of old houses.
Foça is the site of one of three marine protected areas established in Turkey for the preservation of the Mediterranean Monk Seal, a heavily endangered species of sea mammals.
THE MONK SEALS OF FOÇA
On the world, the monk seals have a population of 350-400. In Foça, these monk seals are settled down on the islands just near Foça. For the protection of the monk seals Word Wide Foundation (WWF), National Protection of Monk Seals Committee is carrying out studies. They are trying to conserve them and find a few areas in the world. Foça was chosen as a pilot area to save sea seals that give its name to the district by National Seal Committee in 1991.
SIREN ROCKS
The colorful rocks, from cotton-white to gypsy pink colors, arising as an iceberg in the middle of the sea, the caves embraced with the sea at the shores, wide-spread rocks into the open sea which has shallowness in their surrounding. Among these rock formations there are convenient canals providing passage to the motor-boats.
In the lyric tales of Homeros these rock are mentioned as Siren rockies which were deceiving the sailors and causing them to hit their ships to the rocks. The biggest of the wide-spread seal resembling small island in the Focaean Harbor / Izmir is Orak Island Rockies.
The sirens are female headed, bird bodied, magic voiced creatures that attract sailors. The Sirens lived on a rocky island in the middle of the sea. The island grew white with bleaching bones, from which the Sirens would make musical instruments. According to Appolodorus, the talented Sirens boasted not only a vocal trio, but a small instrumental ensemble, two accompanying the third on lyre and flute.
They sang melodies so beautiful that sailors passing by couldn't resist getting closer to them. Following the sound of music, the sailors would steer their boats towards them or jump in the water to get closer. Either way, it always ended in disaster on the rocks.
The Sirens sang songs to sea travelers to lure them to their deaths. Their songs were enchanting and would make sailors forget their sense of direction. The sailors would steer straight toward the island and crash into the rocks that surrounded it.
In Odyssey of Homer, one of the worst adventures of Odyssey is the Siren. In this mythology it is believed that all the sailors that heard the sings of Sirens have cast a spell on. Odyssey while passing through the Sirens closes his mouth and closes the ears of his crew so even if he gets the magic and tell his crew to stop, the crew will not hear him and they will pass with safety.
PHOCAEA
Eskifoça is the ancient Phocaea. It is believed to have been founded by colonists from Erythrea and Teos in the 8th century BC. Phocaea soon became an important trading center and its fifty-oared galleys roamed from the Black Sea to the Western Mediterranean. The Phocaeans were great navigators and founded many colonies in the Black Sea, the Bosphorus, Italy, and further west. They were the founders, among others, of Massalia (modern Marseilles in France), Tartessus (near Cadiz in Spain), Alalia in Corsica and Velia in Italy.
Phocaea was taken by the Persians from whom they were liberated by Alexander the Great. In the Hellenistic times they sided with the Seleucids against the Romans who captured and looted their city in 190 BC. During the Byzantine era the city declined although it was the see of a bishop. In the Middle Ages Phocaea was occupied by the Genoese who mined alum, used as a dye in the tanning business. Finally the city was captured by the Ottomans in 1455.
SHOPPING CENTER
All of the shops and boutiques are together at the Küçükdeniz district of Focaean. In these shops they sell leather products, carpets, kilims, copper-ware, onyx, Şile fabrics shirts and suits or dresses. Apart from this, there can be found all kinds of typical souvenirs for the tourists to be presented to their relatives and friends upon returning back home.
FESTIVAL
The folklore, Music and water-Sports Festival of Focaean take place every year in the third week of June and lasts three days.
TRANSPORT
Bus : Foça - İzmir, Dikili
Minibus : Foça - Yenifoça
Ferryboat : Foça - Mordoğan (60 mins), Foça Karaburum (50 mins), Foça - Lesvos (Greece)
Airport : İzmir Adnan Menderes International Airport
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LOCATION SATELLITE MAP
WEB SITE :
Foça Municipality
MORE INFO & CONTACT
E-Mail :
bilgi@foca.bel.tr
Phone : +90 232 812 1577 - +90 232 812 1994
Fax : +90 232 812 2422
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