Country: Republic of Turkey
Area: Kaş
Coordinates: 36°12′N 29°38′E
Mayor: Abdullah Gultkein
Population: 53 thousand people
Time zone: EET (UTC +2), summer EEST (UTC +3)
Area code: +90 242
Postal code: 07
Licence plate: 07
Website: http://www.kas.bel.tr/
Kaş is a small fishing, diving, yachting and tourist town, and a district of Antalya Province of Turkey, 168 km west of the city of Antalya. As a tourist town it is relatively unspoilt.
The town of Kas is on a hill running down to the sea. The district has a typical Mediterranean climate of hot, dry summers and warm, wet winters, which allows the growth of oranges, lemons and bananas. The lowland areas are also planted with cut flowers and a variety of fruits and vegetables; many are grown all year round under glass. The hillsides produce honey, and almonds, while at high altitudes there are extensive pine forests. The weather is drier at high altitudes. Although agriculture is still important, tourism is the main source of income in the district, which has many hotels and guest houses.
Although the Teke peninsula has been occupied since the Stone Age it seems Kas was founded by the Lycians, and its name in Lycian language was Habesos or Habesa. It was a member of the Lycian League, and its importance during this time is confirmed by the presence of one of the richest Lycian necropolis.
The ancient Greeks later gave it the name of Antiphellos or Antiphilos, since it was the harbor in front of the city of Phellos. During the Roman period, Antiphellos was famous for exporting sponges and timber. Pliny the Elder refers to the town in the fifth book of his Naturalis Historia. After 395 the town became part of the Eastern Roman Empire and during the early Middle Ages was a bishop's see—and as Antiphellos is still a titular see.The town suffered because of Arab incursions, and then was annexed (under the name of Andifli) to the Anatolian Sultanate of Rum, led by the Seljuks. After the demise of the Seljuks, it came under the Ottomans.
In 1923, because of the Exchange of populations between Greece and Turkey after the Greco-Turkish War, the majority of the population, this was of Greek origin, left the town for Greece. Abandoned Greek houses can still be seen at Kas.In the early 1990s tourism started booming in Kaş, with visitors mainly from the UK and Germany. This growth of tourism brought an explosion in apartment building (often without license), which is seriously threatening the landscape and the environment. Particularly affected is the beautiful Cukurbag Peninsula, west of the town, which now has luxury hotels built on it.
Outdoor sport activities attract the more adventurous visitors of Kas, especially small group holidays from Europe and independent travellers. To name a few popular adventures:
On Fridays, Greek visitors from nearby islands such as Kastelorizo visit the markets of Kas.