“Wow. Experience its beauty” by NASA. The beauty of the “Slow City”, to which he drew the attention of almost the whole world with his notes, now has a place on the list of the United Nations.
Shared by NASA, Akyaka is on the list of “Best tourist villages” by the United Nations.
The Akyaka district of Muğla's Ula district, declared a “slow city” by the Cittaslow International Coordination Committee in June 2011, is the center of tourist attention in every season.
In particular, the Women's River flows through rows of trees and reeds right next to Akyaka and then flows into Gökova Bay, creating the appearance of a natural aquarium.
It offers a visual feast with the coolness of the 1,200-meter-long river, underwater vegetation, fish that feel like they can be held in one's hand, and ducks gliding across the water.
The Akyaka neighborhood, where Women's Azmağı is located, was shared by NASA on its Instagram account on Earth Day on April 22, 2021, with the phrase “Wow. Enjoy its beauty”, making us proud again.
As part of the “Best Tourism Villages” initiative organized by the United Nations Tourism Organization for the 5th time, 52 villages from 29 countries were awarded.
The villages were selected from more than 270 applications from Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and the Middle East, evaluated based on criteria such as preservation of cultural heritage, sustainable use of natural resources and tourism's contribution to local development.
This list was announced at a ceremony held in Huzhou, China. In addition, 20 villages have been included in the “Upgrading Program” and are within the scope of support to be able to receive the title of “Best Tourism Village” in the future. The selected villages from four different regions of Türkiye showcase the country's cultural diversity and sustainable tourism vision to the world. Akyaka Prefecture is listed among the best tourist destinations in the world for its natural beauty, ancient culture and sustainable tourism concept.
“PEOPLE WHO COME HERE SHOULD HAVE ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS”
Çetin Ceylan, who runs a restaurant in Akyaka, said he has lived in Akyaka since 1991 and said: “This is a very beautiful place with nature. We have a river that accumulates a lot of water in a short time. It is clean with natural beauty and the sea.” he said.
Çağla Su Özcan, who lives in Akyaka, said: “I have lived here since 2014. I came from Kocaeli, knew Akyaka for university and stayed here. This year will be 11 years. When mentioning Akyaka, everyone thinks of nature, tranquility and greenery. I especially want people who come here to be environmentally conscious.” he said.
