Editing Cilicia (section)

== Places of interest ==
=== Ancient sites ===
[[File:Fortressarmenians5.jpg|thumb|Kızkalesi (Korykos)]]

'''Kizkalesi (Maiden Castle)''', a fort on a small island across Kızkalesi township, was built during the early 12th century by Armenian kings of the [[Rubenids|Rubeniyan]] dynasty to defend the city of Korykos (present-day Kızkalesi).

'''Heaven & Hell''', situated on a large hill north of Narlıkuyu, consists of the [[grabens]] resulting from assoil of [[furring]]s{{clarify|date=May 2023}} for thousands of years. The natural phenomenon of the grabens is named 'Hell & Heaven' because of the exotic effects on people. Visitors can access the cave of the mythological giant [[Typhon]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cuktob.org.tr/tanitim_detay_eng.asp?TntAKEId=38 |title=Heaven & Hell |publisher=ÇUKTOB |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227085343/http://www.cuktob.org.tr/tanitim_detay_eng.asp?TntAKEId=38 |archive-date=27 February 2012 |access-date=21 February 2020 |quote=Heaven & Hell consists of the grabens result from assoil of furrings in the thousands of years. Natural fenomen of this grabens is called as Heaven & Hell because of the exotic effects on people.You can go Heaven hole from an ancient path which has 452 steps and you can reach 260-meter long mythological giant Typhon cave.}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=May 2023}}

The ancient Roman town of '''[[Soloi]]-Pompeiopolis''', near the city of [[Mersin]].

'''Yılanlı Kale (Castle of Serpents)''', an 11th-century Crusader castle built on a historical road connecting the Taurus mountains with the city of Antakya. The castle has 8 round towers, a military guardhouse and a church. It is located 5&nbsp;km. west of [[Ceyhan]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cuktob.org.tr/tanitim_detay_eng.asp?TntAKEId=53 |title=Yılanlı Kale |publisher=ÇUKTOB |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303182525/http://www.cuktob.org.tr/tanitim_detay_eng.asp?TntAKEId=53 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |access-date=21 February 2020}}</ref>

'''[[Anazarbus]] Castle''', built in the 3rd century, served as the centre of the ancient metropolis of Anavarza. The city was built on a hill and had strategic importance, controlling the Cilician plain. The main castle and the city walls represent remains of the city. The city wall is 1500&nbsp;m. long and 8-10m. high, with 4 entrances to the city. The castle is located 80&nbsp;km. northeast of [[Adana]].

'''Şar (Comona)''', an ancient city located in northernmost Cilicia, some 200&nbsp;km. north of [[Adana]], near [[Tufanbeyli]]. It was an historical centre of the [[Hittites]]. Remaining structures today include the amphitheatre built during the [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] period, ruins of a church from the [[Byzantine]] era and Hittite rock-works.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.adana.gov.tr/?sayfa=10&alt=turizm |title=Adana Governorship (Turkish)}}</ref>

The '''Church of St. Peter''' in [[Antakya]] was a cave on the slopes of Habibi Neccar mountain converted into a church. The church is known as the first Christians' traditional meeting place. [[Pope Paul VI]] declared the church a [[List of Christian pilgrimage sites|"Place of Pilgrimage"]] for Christians in 1963, and since then a special ceremony takes place on [[Feast of Saints Peter and Paul|29 June]] each year.

'''St. Simeon Monastery''', a 6th-century giant structure built on a desolate hill 18&nbsp;km south of Antakya. The most striking features of this monastery are its cisterns, its storage compartment, and the walls. It is believed that [[Simeon Stylites the Younger|St. Simeon]] resided here atop a 20-meter stone column for 45 years.

=== Parks and conservation areas ===
[[Akyatan Lagoon]] is a large wildlife refuge which acts as a stopover for migratory birds voyaging from Africa to Europe. The wildlife refuge has a {{cvt|14700|ha|adj=on}} area made up of forests, lagoon, marsh, sandy and reedy lands. Akyatan lake is a natural wonder with endemic plants and endangered bird species living in it together with other species of plants and animals. 250 species of birds are observed during a study in 1990. The conservation area is located 30&nbsp;km south of [[Adana]], near Tuzla.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cuktob.org.tr/tanitim_detay.asp?TntAKId=60 |title=Akyatan Bird Sanctuary |publisher=Çukurova Touristic Hoteliers Association |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009020027/http://www.cuktob.org.tr/tanitim_detay.asp?TntAKId=60 |archive-date=9 October 2011 |access-date=21 February 2020}}</ref>

'''Yumurtalık Nature Reserve''' covers an area of 16,430 hectares within the Seyhan-Ceyhan delta, with its lakes, lagoons and wide collection of plant and animal species. The area is an important location for many species of migrating birds, the number gets higher during the winters when the lakes become a shelter when other lakes further north freeze.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tourism.gov.tr/EN/Genel/BelgeGoster.aspx?17A16AE30572D3137EE1F1486EE5030E4F81ED62E0BCB915 |title=Yumurtalık Nature Reserve |publisher=Ministry of Culture and Tourism |access-date=21 February 2020 |archive-date=5 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305111903/http://tourism.gov.tr/en/genel/belgegoster.aspx?17a16ae30572d3137ee1f1486ee5030e4f81ed62e0bcb915 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

'''Aladağlar National Park''', located north of [[Adana]], is a huge park of around 55,000 hectares, the summit of Demirkazik at 3756&nbsp;m is the highest point in the middle Taurus mountain range. There is a huge range of flora and fauna, and visitors may fish in the streams full of trout. Wildlife includes wild goats, bears, lynx and sable. The most common species of plant life is black pine and cluster pine trees, with some cedar dotted between, and fir trees in the northern areas with higher humidity. The Alpine region, from the upper borders of the forest, has pastures with rocky areas and little variety of plant life because of the high altitude and slope.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kultur.gov.tr/EN/Genel/BelgeGoster.aspx?17A16AE30572D3137EE1F1486EE5030E8020F3B0746F34B3 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120805055211/http://www.kultur.gov.tr/EN/Genel/BelgeGoster.aspx?17A16AE30572D3137EE1F1486EE5030E8020F3B0746F34B3 |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 August 2012 |title=Aladağlar National Park |publisher=Ministry of Culture and Tourism |access-date=21 February 2020}}</ref>

[[Karatepe-Aslantaş National Park]] located on the west bank of [[Ceyhan River]] in [[Osmaniye]] Province. The park includes the Karatepe [[Hittites|Hittite]] fortress and an open-air museum.

'''Tekköz-Kengerlidüz Nature Reserve''', located 30&nbsp;km north of [[Dörtyol]], is known for having an ecosystem different from the Mediterranean. The main species of trees around Kengerliduz are beech, oak and fir, and around Tekkoz are hornbeam, ash, beach, black pine and silver birch. The main animal species in the area are wild goat, roe deer, bear, hyena, wild cat, wagtail, wolf, jackal and fox.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kultur.gov.tr/EN/Genel/BelgeGoster.aspx?17A16AE30572D3137EE1F1486EE5030E91C5B747978912DF |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120805084738/http://www.kultur.gov.tr/EN/Genel/BelgeGoster.aspx?17A16AE30572D3137EE1F1486EE5030E91C5B747978912DF |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 August 2012 |title=Tekkoz-Kengerlidüz Nature Reserve |publisher=Ministry of Culture and Tourism |access-date=21 February 2020}}</ref>

'''Habibi Neccar Dağı Nature Reserve''' is famous for its cultural as well as natural value, especially for St Pierre Church, which was carved into the rocks. The Charon monument, 200&nbsp;m north of the church, is huge sculpture of Haron, known as Boatman of Hell in mythology, carved into the rocks. The main species of tree are cluster pine, oaks and sandalwood. The mountain is also home to foxes, rabbits, partridges and stock doves. Nature reserve is 10&nbsp;km east of [[Antakya]] and can be accessible by public transport.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kultur.gov.tr/EN/Genel/BelgeGoster.aspx?17A16AE30572D3137EE1F1486EE5030E91C5B747978912DF |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120805084738/http://www.kultur.gov.tr/EN/Genel/BelgeGoster.aspx?17A16AE30572D3137EE1F1486EE5030E91C5B747978912DF |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 August 2012 |title=Habibi Neccar Dagi Nature Reserve |publisher=Ministry of Culture and Tourism |access-date=21 February 2020}}</ref>