Duden Waterfalls
Düden Waterfalls is a famous natural attraction of Turkey, one of the visiting cards of the resort city of Antalya. Spectacular cascades of waterfalls are formed by the Duden River, whose sources are located in the Taurus Mountains. 12 km northeast of Antalya is the Upper Duden Waterfall, which has become part of a magnificent landscape park. And 10 km east of the center of the resort, near Lara Beach, is the even more impressive Lower Düden Waterfall, falling into the Mediterranean Sea from a height of 40 meters.
Video: Duden Waterfalls
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The Düden River is fed by two major karst springs, the Kyrkgezler and the Pınarbaşı. Before the construction of the Kepez hydroelectric power plant in 1962, the water from the springs, merged into one stream, were hidden in underground karst scour holes, and the river came to the surface only after traveling 14 kilometers to reach the slope of the Düdenbaşı hill.
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Today, the underground flow is redirected to the turbines of the hydroelectric power plant. Behind the dam, the river water rushes through a man-made channel to the natural channel in the area of the hill, where the water once came to the surface. This is where the Upper Duden Waterfall, often called “Dudenbashi”, is located. The waterfall is also known under the name of Alexander the Great (İskender Şelalalesi). According to one of the legends, the great warlord used to drink horses here, which were presented to him as a tribute by the inhabitants of the Lycian polis of Aspendos.
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The Dyudenskie waterfalls are the most popular tourist locations with excellent infrastructure. Upper Dyuden is surrounded by a shady park with terraces, a grotto, picnic areas, viewing platforms. The river breaks here with a cascade of waterfalls, falling down in wide streams from a height of about 27 meters and forming a small, almost circular lake. The waters of the Düden River flow out of the lake and towards the Mediterranean Sea, hiding underground in some parts. After reaching a high rocky shore, the sparkling stream plunges into the sea. This waterfall is known as the Lower Duden. The amazing natural attraction looks most spectacular from the sea, so tourists do not miss the opportunity to head here by boat.
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