To preserve this remarkable and beautiful area, home to so many fish, birds and plants, the delta was declared a nature reserve in 1993, with the support of the World Wide Fund for Nature (formerly the World Wildlife Fund), and became part of the Dilek Peninsula National Park to the north. Visiting the delta and the ancient cities around it whose fates have been shaped by the Büyük Menderes river is an unforgettable experience.

Text and photos: YUSUF TUVI