Ala Bridge ( tr, Ala Köprü) is a historic bridge in

Turkey Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with a small portion on the Balkan Peninsula in ...

. It is still in use.

Geography

The bridge is in

Anamur Anamur is a town and district in Mersin Province, Turkey, the westernmost district of that province, bordering on Antalya Province. Anamur contains Anatolia's southernmost point, It is a coastal resort known for its bananas and peanuts. Etym ...

ilçe (district) of

Mersin Province Mersin Province ( tr, ), formerly İçel Province ( tr, ), is a province in southern Turkey, on the Mediterranean coast between Antalya and Adana. The provincial capital and the biggest city in the province is Mersin, which is composed of f ...

. It is on the road connecting Anamur to

Ermenek Ermenek is a town and district of Karaman Province in the Mediterranean region of Turkey. As ancient Germanicopolis (in Isauria; has namesakes), a former bishopric, it remains a Latin Catholic titular see. The district forms the core of the plat ...

at and on Dragon Creek. Its distance to Anamur is .Fügen İlter: Osmanlılara Kadar Anadolu Türk Köprüleri,Karayolları Yayınları,Ankara, p207 Alaköprü Dam is to the north of the bridge.

History

The bridge was constructed by the Karamanids. Karamanids were a Turkmen beylik which were the main rivals of the Ottomans in Anatolia up to the end of the 15th century. (see Anatolian Beyliks) In the 14th century they dominated most of the Mediterranean coast. They constructed the bridge to control Anamur in the coast from Ermenek a city in the mountains. But there is no inscription on the bridge and exact construction date is unknown.Mersin guide
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Architecture

The bridge is an arch type bridge. Main arch is a arch. There is also a minor arch next to the main arch which acts as a discharging cell during heavy rain fall. The total length of the bridge is and the height of the parapet is

References

{{Bridges in Turkey Buildings and structures in Mersin Province Anamur District Arch bridges in Turkey Bridges completed in the 14th century Karamanids Anatolia Beyliks bridges Deck arch bridges