Eternal Flames of Mount Chimaera

The Eternal Flame of Chimaera

Not far from us in Çıralı lies Mount Chimaera, famous for its natural eternal flames that have been flickering for at least the last few thousand years. Methane, mixed with a combustible substance, continually seeps from a small area on the mountainside and ignites upon contact with the air.

According to legend, the Greek hero Bellerophon married the daughter of the Lycian king Iobates and freed the people of Lycia from the fire-breathing monster known as Chimaera. He defeated this creature and buried it right at this spot on the slope. This explains the flames that emerge from beneath the earth!

Interestingly, this region in Turkey has not suffered from the recent wildfires; the natural flames here are relatively harmless.

It seems that there are only two true eternal natural flames in the world—one here, and the other located in Iraq. There is also one in Turkmenistan, but this flame only appeared in 1971 following a failed drilling operation. Additionally, a small fire under a waterfall in New York has been rekindled periodically.

Entry to see the flames costs 60 lira. Marshmallows are sold right at the entrance! We weren't aware of this and stocked up beforehand.

📍Mountain Chimaera