Bafa Lake is located within the borders of (Soke District of) Aydın and Mugla Provinces in Turkey’s Aegean Region. Lake Bafa is spread over a large area between Didim and Milas. Bafa Lake was an ancient gulf which used to be a part of Aegean Sea. Herakliea, a Carian port, takes place within the borders of the Lake, at the south west foot of Besparmak-(Latmos)Mountains. As result of geomorphologic development of Great Menderes Delta the region turned to be a lake. The settlement in the area goes back to 2000 B.C. In 1994, in order to protect the historical and natural values of the area it had been taken under the status of Natural Park. The old village of Kapikiri, which our pension is located, is on the north-eastern shore of the lake, and it mingles with the ruins of Heracleia by Latmos. The ancient city was a port built by the Ionians at the bottom of the Gulf of Latmos. The Bafa Lake is surrounded by the Latmos Mountains (Turkish: "Besparmak") which rise up to 1400 meters. The Latmos Mountains in the hinterland of the westcoast of Turkey near Milet were one of the holy mountains of Asia Minor. These strange rock formations have inspired humans since the Stone Age to believe that fabulous creatures and gods reside here. These mystic mountains are an excellent area for hiking and trekking. Mountains and hills are full of nature's own sculptures, there are stunning rock features on the mountains and by the lake side. Some of the large granite cave-like rocks were turned to monastaries by the hermits, and inside the rocks there are wall paintings. The lake is fed by little torrents and by the river Meander during the rainy season. The water flows back into the Meander along the same direction in the summer.