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HISTORY:
Some
ruins of the Lycian settlement called Perdicia, dating back to the
fourth century BC, are located just above the Canyon of the Valley
of Butteflies, and the name of the village here is named Faralya,
which is reminiscent of the ancient times. Presently the village
is called Uzunyurt. The culture of gardening on terraces built on
slopes by the Byzanthian and subsequent Greek settlers in the
area was adopted by the Turkish immigrants and is still
maintained in our day.
As the valley did not have any visitors until 1960s,
the church on the main street and a few other buildings could be
viewed by the villages located above. The citrus fruits of huge
dimensions, the fig, mastic, carob, mulberry and other trees
typical to the Mediterranean climate, and the huge watermelons
which could not be carried by one person alone, which were grown
in the valley are still recalled. The elderly villagers (some of
whom may have passed away) recall the mysterious lady named
Despina, who lived in the valley in their youth, and who climbed
up the walls of the canyon carrying heavy bags on her back for the
purpose of bartering in the villages. Despina was the lady of the
one-room house with a fire-place presently used by the camping
operators in the valley. She used to sit on the rock along the
shore, watching the sun-set while thinking of her relatives who
left their homes during the exchange, or her boy friend who set
sail and never returned.Then one day she suddenly disappeared and
not even her body could be found.
During the years 1965-1970 an agricultural engineer by
the name of Ertuğrul Ekici cut down the huge citrus fruit trees
which the villagers described as “thick as a man’s waist”, and
which were representative of traditional gardening culture.
Doubtless he intended to replace them with fast-growing,
productive types more suitable for industrial agriculture. He had
irrigation basins and cement pipes built for this purpose. In
those days Ölüdeniz could be reached only by a tractor. Therefore
the farm in the valley was not tended properly. Thus, only a
“ruinous garden” was left behind, devastated by avarice.
At a later date Rıfat Kılar, a collector and
photographer, was greatly impressed by the presence of the
butterflies living in the valley, locally called “Güdürümsu”, and
renamed the place “the Valley of Butteflies”. During that period
a group of people with nationalistic and conservative tendencies
formed a cooperative and bought the valley to build a private
camping site for themselves. However, due to the natural
structure, transportaion was almost impossible and they could not
achieve their aim. Finally the cooperative decided to sell their
land of 22 acres in the valley for five million dollars.
In 1987 lawyer H. Deniz Bayramoglu, a member of the
cooperative, set up a camping site and a resturant in the valley
under the name of Butter Valley. His intentions were not directed
to tourism. Together with a group of nature-lovers, headed by
musician Nezih Topuz, his mission was to protect the valley.
Through a concentrated campaign, the group was soon able to attain
the attention of the public opinion. They wanted more than the
protection of the region by prohibition of constructions; their
aim was to establish a center of activities which they named
active protection area (comprised of various ideas and moves in
harmony with the natural structure).
As years went by, the valley became renowned and was
exposed to detrimental effects of mass tourism. Every year, the
camping site and the restaurant was leased by different people at
high rentals and, like the ancient trees of the valley, the
one-time regular visitors eventually stopped coming here. This
developed eventually because the attempts to protect the valley
continued at the same time. Actually, the leasors never had a
profitable operations here (due to high rents and natural
hinderances). On the other hand, the ever-increasing number of
visitors to the valley still whets the commercial appetites.
THROUGH THE EYES OF AN EXPLORER
It was
in 1976 when I first arrived at Ölüdeniz. At that time Ölüdeniz
was nothing but a village. In 1978 I saw “the two-tailed pasha”
(Charaxes jasius) and was fascinated. Since that date I have been
interested in buttefflies. In 1979 my friend Salih Çavus told me
that there was a small bay further on where the valley was full of
butterflies and we immediately set forth. The valley was covered
almost completely by “tiger butterflies” (Euplagia
quadripunctaria). With white lines on gleaming black, they really
resembled tigers. As they flew, they revealed their lower wings
with black dots on brilliant red background, looking as if they
had caught fire. There was a colony of butterflies around the
waterfall. It looked as if the whole region belonged to the
butterflies. That is why the Güdürümsu was renamed as the Valley
of Butterflies.
As a result of observations lasting a long time, it
became evident that the Valley of Butteflies did not host only
tens of different kinds of butterflies, but also various natural
plants of about 100 species and more than twenty different types
of grasshoppers and spiders. Among them there were some plants and
animals which were good for human health as well as some other
which were dangerous to human life.
During the course of one season, approximately 35-40
species of day-time butterflies (Lepidopterapul-winged) and a
similar number of night-time butterflies (moths) live in the
Valley of Butterflies. Some species live out their life-span for
a single season while others last for two or three generations
(two or three seasons). Furthermore, the largest night butterfly
in our country, “the emperor moth” can be seen at the Valley of
Butterflies during the month of April.
Source:
Rıfat Kıllar
THE VALLEY OF BUTTERFLIES
The Valley of Butterflies, located on one of the eastern shores of
the Belceğiz Gulf, is one of the meeting places of tourists and
nature-lovers with its unspoiled natural beauty, the flora, the
waterfalls, the rock canyons and the butterflies. The Valley is
like an open-air museum where almost all the Mediterranean
butterfly species living at sea level can be observed. This is
due to the humidity provided by the existence of waterfalls and
about hundred different kinds of plants within the valley. The
Valley gets its name from the “tiger butterfly”, one of the most
beautiful members of the “Arctiidae” family. This butterfly, known
as “Euplagie quadripunctaria” in Latin, forms a wide colony of
hundred members during the months of June and October.
The season lasts throughout 12 months at the Valley of
Butterflies, where the dense population is during the months of
July and August. The Valley of Butterflies cannot be reached
overland. In recent times, in addition to visitors on daily boat
tours, it has become a center of attraction for local and foreign
tourists, as well as researchers of nature. Furthermore, the
valley has become an alternative holiday center for young pople,
especially for students. Building is not allowed within the valley
and accommodation is provided by shelters with roofs made of
branches and thatches, sheds built on trees, or tents brought
along by visitors. It is an ideal spot for those wishing to spend
a peaceful holiday in natural surroundings and at a reasonable
price.
Sightseeing:
You must go to the waterfalls if you wish to see the Tiger
Butterflies. Thus you will enjoy two extraordinary sights at once:
the magnificence of the waterfalls and the beauty of the
butterflies. After a walk of 15-20 minutes inland from the shore,
you arrive at the first waterfall. A further walk of 15-20 minutes
takes you to the second waterfall if you are careful and brave
enough to venture this. Another spot for a visit is the Faralya
Village. Turning your back to the sea, if you go along the path on
the right, following the route which necessitates some
rock-climbing at certain points, you can reach the Faralya Village
after a walk of half an hour. Various scents, especially that of
the thyme, accompanies you along the road. If you are lucky, you
can come upon some flocks of butterflies taking flight upon your
approach. The panorama of the valley from the greenery of the
village is really exquisite.
How to go?:
Go to Ölüdeniz by the Ölüdeniz minibus. The Ölüdeniz minibuses run
frequently; you will have no problems in getting on one. You can
reach the Valley of Butterflies from Ölüdeniz in a somewhat small
boat in half an hour. There is a surprise stop-over on the way:
The Blue Cave. If your captain stops here long enough, jump into
the sea, enter the cave and enjoy its beauty.
The boats leave Ölüdeniz every day at 11.00, 14.00 and
18.00 hours for the Valley and return at 08.00, 13.00 and 15.00
hours.
What to take
along?:
You can spend the night by the camp-fire lit along the shore,
watching the stars. At present, there is no trace of electricity,
telephone, television, building or road at the Valley of the
Butterflies. The Valley is a living proof that there can be
tourism without these facilities, also that nature is an overall
feature which is the most valuable asset. If you wish to stay at
the tents or tree-houses of the camping site, the operators
provide you with blankets and similar requirements. However, if
you take your own tent along, your basic needs are flask,
sleeping-bag and blanket. Days are warm at the Valley of
Butterflies while it cools off during the night.Therefore, be sure
to take along sweaters, socks and trousers.If you are fond of
reading, you must bear in mind that all lights are turned off at
22.00 hours at night. Therefore, it is advisable to take a
flashlight or a similar gadget along. It is also advisable to have
shampoo, towel, soap, slippers, a small spirit lamp and moistening
lotion. |
