Discover Koçaşlı: Village history between valley and mountain forest

Koçaşlı between stream and mountain

Koçaşlı lies on the eastern bank of a southern branch of the Ermenek Stream. The village was formerly called Mulumu. Koçaşlı got its current name from Koçaş Dağı above the village. The stream and mountain are two concrete reference points in descriptions of the village: the stream marks its location by the water, while the mountain is the source of the village’s name. Together, these geographic features connect the village’s history with its landscape.

Valley, forests and plant life

Koçaşlı lies in a valley where the elevation drops to around 800 metres; winters are described as mild. The forests of Koçaş surround the village. In Sarıveliler district, 56.5 percent of the area is forested. Tree species found in the district’s forests include oaks, pines, firs, cedars and junipers. Groups of maquis, typical of the Mediterranean climate, also occur in some places. The landscape description thus links the forests around Koçaşlı with the wider natural environment of the district.

A botanical record also offers a closer look at the village’s plant life. A find from 1983 places Turritis laxa on the northern slope of Çamseki Dağı in Koçaşlı village. The find site was on loose rocky terrain at an elevation of 1,500 to 1,800 metres. The record links a named plant species with a specific mountain slope and a clearly defined elevation range.

Agriculture and beekeeping

Agriculture and beekeeping are also part of Koçaşlı’s rural character. Cereals are grown on land suitable for farming, and horticulture has expanded in recent years. Koçaşlı residents also keep bees. The long spring season and variety of flowers are considered favourable for beekeeping. Alongside the village’s geographic features, cultivation and horticulture are further facets of local life.

Seasonal culture and regional heritage

In the wider Sarıveliler area, nomadic Yörük communities from the districts of Alanya, Gazipaşa and Anamur spend time each spring and summer on the local yaylas (highland pastures). They stay there until late autumn. This seasonal stay on the highland pastures is part of the cultural character of the broader travel region and draws attention to the changing seasons.

Göktepe Köristanı is among the region’s cultural sites, around five kilometres southwest of Göktepe. The site includes a settlement from the Classical period and rock tombs carved into limestone. The settlement remains and tombs give the site its archaeological character and add a distinct historical perspective to the landscape themes around Koçaşlı.

Planning your trip

For orientation within the wider travel region: Sarıveliler can be reached from Alanya via the Alanya–Mahmutlar route on an 80-kilometre paved road in about two hours; parts of the road have four lanes. If you are looking for a hotel for a stay in Koçaşlı, the valley, forest, plant life and rural production can help you assess the destination in light of your interests. For specific accommodation features and booking conditions, the information provided by each hotel is authoritative.

Discover more destinations: Alaçatı, Ambar, Karaman, Akçaşehir Municipality, Kazımkarabekir, Ayrancı, Ermenek

Go to the overview of the wider travel region: Karaman.