View source for Didim

{{Infobox Turkey place
| type                 = metro district
| name                 = Didim
| image_skyline        = Temple of Apollo, Didyma 01.jpg
| image_caption        = Temple of Apollo
| image_map            = Aydın location Didim.svg
| map_caption          = Map showing Didim District in Aydın Province
| coordinates          = {{coord|37.3756|27.2678|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| province             = Aydın
| leader_party         = CHP
| leader_name          = Ahmet Deniz Atabay
| leader_name1         = 
| area_total_km2       = 424
| elevation_m          = 
| population_footnotes = <ref name=tuik/>
| population_total     = 97000
| population_as_of     = 2022
| postal_code          = 09270
| area_code            = 0256
| website              = {{url|http://www.didim.bel.tr/}}
}}
[[File:Didim 01 2010.jpg|thumb|Altınkum]]
[[File:Didim Didyema 2.JPG|thumb|Medusa Head]]
'''Didim''' is a municipality and [[Districts of Turkey|district]] of [[Aydın Province]], [[Turkey]].<ref>[https://www.e-icisleri.gov.tr/Anasayfa/MulkiIdariBolumleri.aspx Büyükşehir İlçe Belediyesi], Turkey Civil Administration Departments Inventory. Retrieved 12 July 2023.</ref> Its area is 424&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.harita.gov.tr/uploads/files-folder/il_ilce_alanlari.xlsx|title=İl ve İlçe Yüz ölçümleri|publisher=General Directorate of Mapping|access-date=12 July 2023}}</ref> and its population is 97,000 (2022).<ref name=tuik>{{Cite web |title=Address-based population registration system (ADNKS) results dated 31 December 2022, Favorite Reports|url=https://biruni.tuik.gov.tr/medas/?kn=95&locale=en |access-date=12 July 2023|publisher=[[TÜİK]]|language=en|format=XLS}}</ref> It is a popular seaside holiday resort on the [[Aegean Sea|Aegean]] coast of western Turkey, {{convert|123|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} from the provincial capital city of [[Aydın]]. Didim is the site of the antique city of '''[[Didyma]]''' with its ruined [[Didyma|Temple of Apollo]].

==Etymology==
Didim takes its name from ancient '''[[Didyma]]''', situated close to the modern town. During the [[Ottoman Empire]] era, the town was known as ''Yoranda'' or ''Yoran'', and under the modern Republic of Turkey, it was originally named ''Hisar'' ("Castle"). Following its destruction in an earthquake in 1955, the town was rebuilt and renamed ''Yenihisar'' ("New Castle"). The town was part of [[Söke]] district until 1991. The area became a top-level district of [[Aydın Province]] and was given the ancient name ''Didim'' in 1997 to distinguish it from the many other places in Turkey named Yenihisar.

==History==
{{Hatnote|See '''[[Didyma]]''' for a full account of the ancient city.}}
The area was settled in the [[Neolithic]] period, established as colony of [[Crete]] and then [[Mycenae]] in the 16th century BC and subsequently possessed by [[Lycians]], [[Persia]]ns, [[Seleucids]], [[Attalids]], [[Ancient Romans]], and [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantines]] as part of the province of [[Caria]]. The area came into the hands of [[Turkish people|Turks]] following the defeat of Byzantium at the [[Battle of Malazgirt]] in 1071. The town was captured again by the [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantines]] in 1098, by [[Menteşe (beylik)|Menteşe]] in 1280, and then [[Aydinids]] in 1300. Didim was brought into the Ottoman Empire by sultan [[Mehmed I]] in 1413. During the era of the [[Ottoman Empire]], Didim's name was "Yoran".

==Geography==
Didim is located on the north shore of the gulf of [[Güllük]], opposite [[Bodrum]] peninsula villages such as [[Torba, Turkey|Torba]], [[Türkbükü]], and [[Yalıkavak]]. In antiquity, this formed the Posideium Peninsula but silt from the [[Büyük Menderes River|Meander River]] has since filled in the inlet to its north, connecting it more thoroughly to the mainland.

Didim's district consists of Didim itself, a coastal town of 26,000 people, and a number of small towns including [[Altınkum]] (which means "golden sand"), ''Gümüşkum'' ("silver sand") and ''Sarıkum'' ("yellow sand"). Its neighbours are [[Söke]] from north-east and [[Milas]] from south-east.

Tourism is the main source of income for the area, especially in summer, but agriculture is also an important contributor; the main crops are wheat and cotton. Animals, especially sheep and goats, are raised mainly for local consumption.

== Administrative divisions ==
There are 14 [[mahalle|neighbourhoods]] in Didim District:<ref>[https://www.e-icisleri.gov.tr/Anasayfa/MulkiIdariBolumleri.aspx Mahalle], Turkey Civil Administration Departments Inventory. Retrieved 12 July 2023.</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=12em}}
* [[Akbük, Didim|Akbük]]
* [[Akköy, Didim|Akköy]]
* [[Ak-Yeniköy, Didim|Ak-Yeniköy]]
* [[Altınkum]]
* [[Balat, Didim|Balat]]
* [[Batıköy, Didim|Batıköy]]
* [[Çamlık, Didim|Çamlık]]
* [[Cumhuriyet, Didim|Cumhuriyet]]
* [[Denizköy, Didim|Denizköy]]
* [[Efeler, Didim|Efeler]]
* [[Fevzipaşa, Didim|Fevzipaşa]]
* [[Hisar, Didim|Hisar]]
* [[Mavişehir, Didim|Mavişehir]]
* [[Mersindere, Didim|Mersindere]]
* [[Yalıköy, Didim|Yalıköy]]
* [[Yenimahalle, Didim|Yenimahalle]]
{{div col end}}

==Tourism==
[[File:Altınkum, Didim, Turkey, evening.jpg|thumb|Altınkum]]
This coast has become a very popular holiday [[resort]], known for its long sandy beaches, clear blue sea, ancient ruins, and its own microclimate, benefiting from hundreds of days of sun annually and warm winters, allowing residents to use the beaches and engage in watersports even in January. Less frequented beaches are ones further from the centre, such as Haydar, along a dirt road around the shore of [[Akbük, Didim|Akbük]] (meaning "white forest").

Recent renewal of main roads means the area is easily served by [[Milas–Bodrum Airport|Bodrum]] and [[Adnan Menderes Airport|İzmir]] airports.

Because of Didim's location, people in the 1980s came from close cities around Turkey, especially [[Aydın]], began to buy or built summer houses, apartments, and villas in the area. Most of these were built as cooperative housing projects with private beaches. Property values have recently been rising, and the building boom continues as foreign buyers, especially the families from other cities of Turkiye such as Denizli and Ankara, Turks living and working in Europe, follow their lead. The growth of Didim in the 1980s was further accelerated with the building of hotels to accommodate visitors, originally from Britain but now from Turkey itself, on inexpensive [[package holiday]]s. Since about 2000, [[British people|British]] people have begun to buy summer houses in Didim, establishing themselves as a visible community of many thousands, to the extent that utility bills in the district are now printed in English as well as Turkish.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/weekend/story/0,,1998308,00.html Elsewhere | Weekend | Guardian Unlimited<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Many bars around Didim are noted for having the [[Union Jack]] hanging inside.

Didim town has hotels, amusement park, gift shops, hidden bays and beaches, and the antique Temple of Apollo and Temple of Artemis nearby. Didim is also close to a number of other ancient towns and natural formations, such as [[Lake Bafa]] national park, the [[Büyük Menderes River]], and historic sites like [[Miletus]] and [[Priene]].

Didim has night clubs, beach clubs, smaller bars and pubs, some with live music. There are American pubs, Irish and British bars and Turkish bars with Eastern-Anatolian folk musics.

Didim Marina (D-Marin Didim) was constructed by [[Doğuş Holding]] and became operational in 2009 with berths for 8&nbsp;m to 50&nbsp;m boats, 400-ton boat lift, dry docks, hangars, maintenance yard, yacht club, shopping mall, restaurants, and visitor facilities. The new marina is expected to encourage further tourism and rising property prices in the area.

City municipality carries out some specific events and festivals such as Vegan Fest, Lavender Fest and Autograph Sessions of famous Turkish authors every summer.

==Places of interest==
* The ruins of the [[Ionic order|Ionic]] Temple of [[Apollo]] with its columns pointing up into the sky and its legend of the romance between Apollo and Daphne is nearby. The original temple and home of an [[oracle]] was destroyed during the [[Persian Wars]] and the one seen today was rebuilt following [[Alexander the Great]]'s victory over the Persians<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.elevatedloc.com/cfool/PhotoGallery/Turkey/MonumentsAndFamousStuff/Didyma.jpg |title=Didim |publisher=Elevated Locations |access-date=27 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207115802/http://www.elevatedloc.com/cfool/PhotoGallery/Turkey/MonumentsAndFamousStuff/Didyma.jpg |archive-date=7 February 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://cnes.cla.umn.edu/courses/Didyma%20cella%20view.jpg |title=Didyma |publisher=CNES |access-date=27 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shunya.net/Pictures/Turkey/AegeanTurkey/didyma1.jpg |title=Didyma |publisher=Shunya |access-date=27 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120624151729/http://shunya.net/Pictures/Turkey/AegeanTurkey/didyma1.jpg |archive-date=24 June 2012 }}</ref> 
* [[Miletos]], the ruins of the ancient city including a well-preserved antique theatre, stadium, baths of Faustina, and the temple of Serapis
* [[Denizköy VLF transmitter]], a transmitter of the US military with two 380-meter-tall guyed masts

==Climate==
Didim (Aydin) has a [[Mediterranean climate]] consisting of very hot, long and dry summers with an average of 34&nbsp;°C (93&nbsp;°F) in the daytime, winters are cool and rainy with a daytime average of 14&nbsp;°C (57&nbsp;°F).

{{Weather box |metric first= Yes |single line= Yes |location= Fethiye |width=auto
|Jan high C= 13.4 
|Feb high C= 14.6
|Mar high C= 18.1
|Apr high C= 22.4
|May high C= 28.4
|Jun high C= 33.5
|Jul high C= 36.1
|Aug high C= 35.5
|Sep high C= 31.9
|Oct high C= 26.3
|Nov high C= 19.5
|Dec high C= 14.4  
|Jan low C= 4.2
|Feb low C= 4.8
|Mar low C= 6.8
|Apr low C= 10.1
|May low C= 14.1
|Jun low C= 18.1
|Jul low C= 20.4
|Aug low C= 20.1
|Sep low C= 16.5
|Oct low C= 12.7
|Nov low C= 8.4
|Dec low C= 5.5 
|Jan precipitation mm = 99.5 
|Feb precipitation mm = 93.0
|Mar precipitation mm = 70.7
|Apr precipitation mm = 53.7
|May precipitation mm = 33.2
|Jun precipitation mm = 15.7
|Jul precipitation mm = 8.9
|Aug precipitation mm = 5.7
|Sep precipitation mm = 15.5
|Oct precipitation mm = 45.4
|Nov precipitation mm = 85.9
|Dec precipitation mm = 111.3 
|Jan rain days= 10.9  
|Feb rain days= 10.1
|Mar rain days= 9.1
|Apr rain days= 8.8
|May rain days= 6.0
|Jun rain days= 2.5
|Jul rain days= 1.8
|Aug rain days= 1.2
|Sep rain days= 3.0
|Oct rain days= 5.6
|Nov rain days= 8.3
|Dec rain days= 12.0  
|Jan sun=    
|Feb sun=  
|Mar sun=  
|Apr sun=  
|May sun= 
|Jun sun=  
|Jul sun=  
|Aug sun=  
|Sep sun=  
|Oct sun=  
|Nov sun=  
|Dec sun=  
|source 1= Devlet Meteoroloji İşleri Genel Müdürlüğü <ref>[http://www.dmi.gov.tr/veridegerlendirme/il-ve-ilceler-istatistik.aspx?m=AYDIN İl ve İlçelerimize Ait İstatistiki Veriler- Meteoroloji Genel Müdürlüğü] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110620035225/http://dmi.gov.tr/veridegerlendirme/il-ve-ilceler-istatistik.aspx?m=AYDIN |date=2011-06-20 }}. Dmi.gov.tr. Retrieved on 2011-10-15.</ref> 
|date= October 2011
}}

==International Relations==
{{Main|List of twin towns and sister cities in Turkey}}

Didim is [[town twinning|twinned]] with:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kardeş Şehirler |url=https://www.didim.bel.tr/sayfa/4108/kardes-sehirler |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=www.didim.bel.tr}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|GER}} [[Laubach]], Germany
*{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Leros]], Greece
*{{flagicon|TUR}} [[Bulanık]], Turkey

== Education ==
There are 4 kindergartens, 13 primary schools, 11 secondary schools, 7 high schools, 1 public education center, 1 vocational training center, 1 science and art center affiliated with the Ministry of National Education in the district.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Schools and Other Institutions |url=https://www.meb.gov.tr/baglantilar/okullar/?ILKODU=9&ILCEKODU=17 |access-date=24 July 2024 |website=www.meb.gov.tr/en/}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commonscat|Didim}}
* [http://www.didim.gov.tr District governor] {{in lang|tr}}
* [http://www.didimto.org.tr/en/ Chamber of commerce] {{in lang|en}}
* [http://www.didimgezginii.com/en Visit Didim]{{Dead link|date=January 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} {{in lang|en}}
* [http://www.didimi.guide/en/ Didim Guide]{{Dead link|date=January 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} {{in lang|en}}

{{Districts of Turkey|provname=Aydın|image=Aydin|}}
{{Didim District}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Didim}}

[[Category:Populated places in Aydın Province]]
[[Category:Turkish Riviera]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Turkey]]
[[Category:Didim District| ]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Aydın Province]]
[[Category:Metropolitan district municipalities in Turkey]]
[[Category:Districts of Aydın Province]]