DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5541#0535
502
PARK OF CYRUS.
[Chap. xxix.
CHAPTER XXIX.
Leave Deeiiair—Chardak Ghieul—Anava lacus—Ascania palus—Salt lake—
Petrifying springs—Chonos—Colossal—Subterranean course of the Lycus—
Bounar Baslii—Denizli—Laodicea—Hierapolis—Iucrasted clift"—Hot springs—
Tombs—Tchoruk Su—Ak Khan.
At half-past twelve we started from Deenair, and crossing
the Mseander proceeded for nearly three miles over the
plain to the S.W. of the town, perhaps the site of
the park of Cyrus. We then ascended a low ridge of
white cretaceous hills, part of the extensive horizontal
lacustrine formation which occupies a large space in the
interior of Asia Minor, and of which this ajjpears to be the
most southern portion. At two we had reached the summit
of the ridge, and immediately commenced a gentle descent
over an undulating hut barren and burnt-up country. The
lake of Chardak, sometimes called Hadji Tous Ghieul, ap-
peared about ten miles off to the S.W.; its nearest point,
however, was not above five miles from us to the south;
in winter it covers a considerable space of ground, extend-
ing nearly sixteen miles from E. to W., but only three or
four from N. to S., and was now nearly dry; this, however,
was not visible until a nearer approach showed that only a
small portion of its bed was really under water, the rest
being soft mud covered with a thick saline incrustation.
In the plain between us and the lake were many tents
of Turcomans and Euruques, with camels grazing in every
direction. A steep and partly wooded range of hills rose
to a considerable height on the other side of the lake,
forming the southern boundary of the province of Phrygia,
and extending from the Taurus to Mount Cadmus. We
reached Balat, a small village six hours from Deenair,
PARK OF CYRUS.
[Chap. xxix.
CHAPTER XXIX.
Leave Deeiiair—Chardak Ghieul—Anava lacus—Ascania palus—Salt lake—
Petrifying springs—Chonos—Colossal—Subterranean course of the Lycus—
Bounar Baslii—Denizli—Laodicea—Hierapolis—Iucrasted clift"—Hot springs—
Tombs—Tchoruk Su—Ak Khan.
At half-past twelve we started from Deenair, and crossing
the Mseander proceeded for nearly three miles over the
plain to the S.W. of the town, perhaps the site of
the park of Cyrus. We then ascended a low ridge of
white cretaceous hills, part of the extensive horizontal
lacustrine formation which occupies a large space in the
interior of Asia Minor, and of which this ajjpears to be the
most southern portion. At two we had reached the summit
of the ridge, and immediately commenced a gentle descent
over an undulating hut barren and burnt-up country. The
lake of Chardak, sometimes called Hadji Tous Ghieul, ap-
peared about ten miles off to the S.W.; its nearest point,
however, was not above five miles from us to the south;
in winter it covers a considerable space of ground, extend-
ing nearly sixteen miles from E. to W., but only three or
four from N. to S., and was now nearly dry; this, however,
was not visible until a nearer approach showed that only a
small portion of its bed was really under water, the rest
being soft mud covered with a thick saline incrustation.
In the plain between us and the lake were many tents
of Turcomans and Euruques, with camels grazing in every
direction. A steep and partly wooded range of hills rose
to a considerable height on the other side of the lake,
forming the southern boundary of the province of Phrygia,
and extending from the Taurus to Mount Cadmus. We
reached Balat, a small village six hours from Deenair,