Beşparmak Mountain
Beşparmak Mountain (Latmos Mountains) is a mountain located in the West Menteşe Mountains system, east of Lake Bafa. The highest point of the mountain, which spreads over the lands of Aydın and Muğla, is Tekerlekdağ with 1375 m.
The mountain, which is very important archaeologically, bears traces from the Neolithic period to the Ottomans. Rock paintings, which are among the important recent prehistoric discoveries, date back to 6,000-5,000 BC. In the 170 paintings identified, mostly humans were drawn instead of prey and animals. People are not drawn individually, but in a way that reminds them of a family. These rock paintings have an important place among the world's rock paintings in terms of painting language and subject.
The mountain, which was the abode of the god of rain and weather in the Neolithic period, was replaced by Zeus, the god of the sky, in Greek mythology. During the Byzantine period, the region became a center for rain prayer and a monastery was built.
In the area included in the Menderes massif, metamorphic rocks such as granite, gneiss and auger gneiss are common. As the gneiss was eroded, interesting shapes (human figures, demons, animal and monster silhouettes) emerged. The land, which has archaeological and historical features, is under threat from feldspar mining.
The Mediterranean climate prevails in the area and stone pine and other maquis species seen in narrow areas are common. There are endemic sweetgum trees around Lake Bafa, located in the SW direction of the Beşparmak mountains. The mountains are the habitat of the endangered Anatolian leopard. Fox, bear, jackal, hedgehog, wild boar, rabbit, white-tailed eagle, red hawk and hawk live in the surrounding area.
The ancient city of Latmos, located on the mountain, was founded in 300 BC and was abandoned at the end of the 4th century AD.
