Cold water bay - Soğuksu Koyu (Muğla Province)

 cove, anchorage

On the left hand side of Beştaş Limanı is a small cove, Soğuksu Koyu – Cold Water
Bay. This is a very popular anchorage for the yachting fraternity who only have to
paddle ashore, and undertake a short climb, to be able to dine at Ali Tuna’s
restaurant where ‘Turkish Lamb’ on the menu looks and tastes remarkably like wild
boar. Cold Water Bay takes its name from the perennial springs which well-up from
beneath the surface of the bay. As these plumes of ice-cold water break the surface
they are perfectly potable. I know because I have drunk from them. Here then, I
believe we have the answer. For small ancient vessels sailing along a notoriously dry
coast, fresh water would have been a rare and vital commodity, well worth an entry
in anybody’s sailing instructions. And, come to think about it, the Xanthus (i.e. the
fresh water of the Xanthus River) and Cissides were the only two fresh water
sources along this entire stretch of coast. Cissides means water to the thirsty
mariner. I rest my case.