The ancient city of Olympos, home of the eternal fire, is surrounded by sacred mountains hiding the remains of elegant civilizations. The Akdere Creek flows through the ancient city and carries with it all imaginable shades of green to the Mediterranean. And then there is the Çirali beach, home of the Caretta caretta.

In antiquity it was believed that Hephaistos' forge was underneath volcanoes, hence the building of temples on their tops. Ancient sources indicate that there was one such temple around Yanartas in Olympos, though this has yet to be confirmed with archaeological findings. Research undertaken by geologists indicates that the eternal flames result from the morphology of the region. In the underground depths, calcium sediments come into contact with serpentine and produces natural gas, which emerges out of openings in the ground.
	Çıralı beach, extending for three kilometers (2 mi.), is one of the few protected beaches where the Caretta caretta sea turtles lay their eggs. The beach is also rich in plant cover. Given its uniqueness, its has been categorized as a first or second priority preservation site.
Pine trees to the north of the beach. These trees are seen everywhere on the beaches around Antalya and illustrate the beauty of contrast, but only when there are a few of them on the beach. In essence, overpopulation of pine trees is not good for the environment on the beaches because it disrupts their natural evolution.
	The remains of the ancient city of Olympos are scattered to the north and south of Akdere. The remains are surrounded by the typical plant cover of the Mediterranean. Covered with vines, the city eluded attention for many years. Short archaeological expeditions and cleaning efforts that were undertaken lately have saved the visitors from the perils of getting lost in a wild jungle. In the process, researchers have uncovered a sarcophagus and another building with a mosaic floor.
What attracted attention first was the remains of a wall that seemed to have been built by skilled masons and the remnants of a bridge that seems to have been built over Akdere. These were perhaps the earliest signs of a civilization in this city, which archaeologists date back to the beginning of the Hellenistic era. The acropolis of the city was atop a small but rugged hill to the north.
	The necropolis is to the south of the city at the foot of Mount Musa. If you walk eastward from the necropolis, you reach the ruins of the amphitheater. And if you walk toward the mouth of the creek, you see a Byzantine Basilica and other ruins that must have belonged to the agora. The ruins that are on the steep hill to the southeast of Mount Musa belong to the medieval castle.
Olympos is not yet fully discovered and offers its cultural richness in a relatively calm and quiet environment. Undoubtedly, many more ruins will be brought to daylight when archaeological expeditions are resumed, making it possible for us to get to know Olympos more.