About Egirdir: Green Island

Yesilada, the green island, stretches a few hundred metres to the northwest of the town centre and is joined to the mainland by a 26 year old man-made causeway. A short walk across the causeway and you can picnic, swim or relax on the lakefront. Although the island boasts no sandy beaches, there are many idyllic spots to lay down your towel and enjoy the peaceful tranquillity.The island is not large. Walking at a leisurely pace a circuit can be completed in 20 minutes. While the outer rim is dotted with pensions and restaurants, to wander into the middle of the island is to discover history as well as experience the authentic culture and lifestyle of the locals.

GREEK HOMES
Yesilada has very strong Greek origins and ancestry. In years long past it boasted a very large Greek community .During the war, in 1922, the men returned to Greece and until 1924 only women remained on the island. However, the women also returned to Greece at the conclusion of the war. Many of the homes they built, recognisable as the old large brown wooden buildings, can still be found scattered throughout the middle of the island. Quite surprisingly, although they look to be crumbling to the ground, some are still occupied today.