The Turkish region of Mersin is a key stop for migrating birds and is one of Anatolia’s major faith centres.
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00:00Welcome to Tarsus, in the southern Turkish district of Mersin, on the Mediterranean coast.
00:09This region has been a meeting point for diverse civilizations and religions for centuries.
00:16In this episode I'm going to be following in the footsteps of a saint and discovering the area's natural beauty.
00:23With its 6,000-year historical heritage, Tarsus is one of the oldest towns in the world and one of Anatolia's most important faith centers.
00:38Saint Paul, who had an important role in the spread of Christianity, was born right here.
00:43The Apostle visited the region, which was part of the ancient Cilicia, multiple times during his missionary journeys.
00:50It isn't a coincidence that from the 5th century many churches were dedicated to him.
00:55Today, only one survives, the Saint Paul Church, built between the 11th and 12th centuries BC.
01:02Christianity was normally limited to the Arab region.
01:08Thanks to Saint Paul and his journeys, Christianity spread to Anatolia, Greece and Europe.
01:31We have a depth of 38 meters in the well and we can reach 18 to 20 meters of water.
01:39This water is believed to be healing.
01:42It's a good starting point for pilgrims who want to follow in the Apostle's footsteps.
01:47This region has great potential for religious tourism and not only because of its connection with Saint Paul.
01:53In Saint Paul, the Esa Behema Arase, or the Seven Sleepers Cave, is 300 square meters wide by 10 meters deep and considered sacred by both Christians and Muslims.
02:04It's one of the most visited sites of the region.
02:09About 80 kilometers west of Mersini is Silifke.
02:12Here you can visit an impressive natural phenomenon, two sinkholes called Gennet and Jehemnem, or Heaven and Hell.
02:21At depths of 70 and 128 meters respectively, they were formed by the collapse of cave ceilings from chemical erosion caused by an underground stream thousands of years ago.
02:32Look at what Mother Nature has done in this incredible place.
02:36Have you ever been to the depths of the earth?
02:38If not, I'll take you with me.
02:40The Heaven sinkhole can be easily explored.
02:43Visitors can go down its 450 steps to reach the center of the cave.
02:48It's a lot of steps, sure, but look at what you can find inside.
02:52This small Byzantine chapel was built at the mouth of this cave in the 5th century and dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
02:59It seems that there was once a temple for Pan in the same spot.
03:04In Roman times, it is believed that this is the only Pan temple known in the world.
03:11The Hell sinkhole is deeper but its opening is smaller, so the only people who can access the bottom are professional mountaineers.
03:19A glass viewing terrace has been built to make observation easier for the rest of us.
03:28This region is full of sights of natural beauty.
03:31The Göksu Delta, where the Göksu River meets the Mediterranean, is a basin of 15,000 square kilometers
03:37and it's one of the few places in the world where birds stop during their migration.
03:42It's home to rare and endangered species.
03:45This wild and windy wetland is one of 18 special environmental protection areas in Turkey.
03:51Approximately 350 bird species stop here to break their journey across the Levant.
03:57One of the main reasons why the Göksu Delta is important for birds is that it is on migratory routes.
04:04And especially for flamingos, the Göksu Delta, Göksu Irmağ's alluvial water,
04:11that is, the water that is transported here through small canals,
04:15is very rich in nutrients for flamingos and also for other birds.
04:25The Göksu Delta has been declared as one of the most important bird sanctuaries in the Middle East and Europe
04:31by the International Council for the Protection of Birds.
04:36If you are into bird watching, this is definitely a place to visit.
04:42From mystic places to natural paradises,
04:45I can really say that during this trip in the southern part of Turkey,
04:49I've seen heaven with my own eyes.
04:52Görüşürüz!