Kayakoy: Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Greek Ghost Town inwards Turkey

Eight km to the due south of Fethiye metropolis inward southwestern Turkey lies the ruins of around v hundred houses belonging to the i time thriving community of Livissi , consisting by together with large of Greek Orthodox Christians. Livissi , right away known every bit Kayakoy or the Rock Village , was built belike inward the 18th century on the site of the ancient metropolis of Lebessus , together with is idea to convey been the identify where the inhabitants of Byzantine Gemiler Island fled to escape the marauding pirates. After a devastating earthquake together with sack left Fethiye a wasted nation , many moved to Livissi together with the town grew. During its heydays , Livissi had a population of 10 ,000 or xx ,000 according to dissimilar sources.

Before the First World War , in that place were many Greek populations living peacefully across the whole of western Turkey. But when War started , these Greeks all of a precipitous flora themselves inward enemy nation together with at mercy of the Ottomans. Several hundred chiliad Greeks were massacred during the state of war every bit business office of ethnic cleansing carried out past times the Turks. Some fled to Greece. Others were forcibly deported.

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Photo credit: Sarah Murray/Flickr

The inhabitants of Livissi were driven out from their homes together with marched on pes to some other place 220 km away. Many perished , succumbing to hunger together with fatigue , during these function marches.

After Turkey’s defeat inward the War together with the collapse of the Ottoman Empire , the Greeks decided to become nation grabbing together with invaded Turkey. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 full-scale state of war followed —the Greco-Turkish War— lasting 3 years , during which untold lay out of horrible crimes were committed past times both Greeks together with Turks against each other —mass murders , rapes , butchering , burning downwards of cities together with the usual.

Eventually , a peace treaty was signed inward 1923 , together with both countries came to an understanding to telephone commutation population. Over i meg Greek Orthodox Christians living inward Turkey were to furnish to Greece. In a like fashion , nigh 500 ,000 Muslims would convey to function out Greek territories together with become dorsum to Turkey.

By the fourth dimension the state of war ended , Livissi was to a greater extent than or less abandoned. The few remaining families were i time once to a greater extent than forcibility deported. When the Greeks left , the Muslim deportees from Hellenic Republic landed on Livissi. However , the Muslims , accustomed to large together with fertile fields inward their sometime nation , flora this hilly together with rocky town unfit to alive , together with abandoned the identify inward favor of other regions. In 1957 , a 7.1 magnitude earthquake delivered Livissi its terminal blow , destroying most of the town’s buildings.

The town of Livissi , right away renamed Kayakoy , remains deserted simply preserved every bit a museum together with a historical monument. Unfortunately , the Turkish authorities has been cooking upwards some terrible plans to plough business office of the historic town into a tourist attraction amongst hotels , shops together with other facilities.

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