Ancient city of Ephesus to reunite with sea

It has been reported that major progress has been made in the first phase of the Ephesus Ancient Canal Project that will bring the ancient city in the western province of İzmir's Selçuk district together with the sea again after 2,500 years.

Some 60 percent of the piling works in the construction have been completed as the first phase includes a 600-meter-long channel and a 100-meter-wide and 250-meter-long marina that will provide short-term accommodation for boats in the area.

Within the scope of the first phase of the project, the entrance of the ancient canal will be rearranged and the marina will be built in accordance with the historical texture.

The ancient city of Ephesus and harbor were located at the starting point of the royal road where western and eastern cultures intersected for thousands of years. However, in 2,500 years, due to the alluvium brought by Little Maeander and Marnas watercourse, the ancient city moved 9 kilometers away from the sea and took its present form.

A project official, Birol Çınar, said that the first phase of the Ephesus Ancient Canal Project covers the line on the Kuşadası-İzmir highway from the coast.

As the covering process of the marina's walls and its surroundings with marbles suitable for the historical texture still continue, in the second phase, the area from the İzmir-Kuşadası highway to the Ephesus Port will be cleaned and reorganized in accordance with the historical texture, and the boats will be brought to the ancient city, according to Çınar.

With the project, which is expected to make a great contribution to the country's tourism, it will be possible to travel to Ephesus on boats once again after 2,500 years.

The goal is to increase the number of tourists coming...