Myth of Kara Ada

No matter what the father did, no matter what doctors he summoned, they were powerless to diagnose the illness. Hearing about the mysterious illness of the ruler's daughter, a doctor who lived on Knidos (Datça) came to visit the ruler and, after examining his daughter, made the following diagnosis: the daughter neededthe fresh air of a pine grove, and then her former cheerfulness and beauty would return.

After a long search for such a place, the Ruler of Halicarnassus found that the green island directly opposite the castle was ideal for his daughter in terms of climate as advised by the doctor. Immediately, luxurious chateaux were built on the island, where the ruler's daughter arrived with her entourage.

As the days passed, just as the doctor from Knidos had predicted, the girl was indeed much better and fully recovered

The green island was so beautiful that the girl simply fell in love with it and spent all her time walking through the forest and the coastline.

This time after prolonged bed rest whatever the doctors did could not save her. Having learnt about the death of his daughter, the Ruler from grief ordered to burn the island to the ground. Being in the re for many days, from the resin of pine groves the island turned into a black desert. And later it received the name ‘Black Island’ (Kara Ada).

After a while, the cool breeze and constant walking made the girl overworked and she fell ill again.

However, it was not the re, but the island's grief at the fact that the girl with whom it was also in love had died, that made it a black mourning colour. According to legend, the healing springs that can be seen on the island today are the tears of the island mourning the loss, and the warmth of their water is the strength of the girl's love for the island.