Hot Springs of Black Island

Kara Ada (Black Island) is a green island which is popular with tourists because of its cave with healing springs and mud baths.

Kara Ada means "black island" in Turkish. This long island, located in the Aegean Sea, is 6 kilometers from Bodrum.

During the Middle Ages Kara Ada was known to the Greeks as Arkos (Arkos) and once belonged to the Knights of the Order of St. John, who occupied Bodrum. The island was then conquered by the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century. In 1919, Kara Ada was occupied by the Italians, but after the 1932 Convention between Italy and Turkey, the island reverted to Turkey.

The black island is covered with dense greenery. On the slopes of the mountain that formed the island, you can admire the pine forest and thickets of amber trees.

In the bay there is an old building of the water cure clinic, where in calm weather you can anchor, and then come by dingy to the cave with springs. Locals are also happy to take you to the island for a reasonable fee.

Mud bathing has been used since ancient times for health purposes. Mud baths were popular for many diseases in ancient Egypt, ancient Rome and India. There is a belief that Queen Cleopatra of Egypt owes her beauty and skin tenderness to the mud baths of Cara Ada Island. Therefore, almost all women who come to the island, apply healing mud to the body and face to cleanse the skin and get a fresher and brighter complexion.

Kara Ada mud springs are adsorptive thanks to the microorganisms that live in them. These microorganisms absorb from the surface of the skin and mucosa all the germs and the skin becomes more gentle and fresh.

Local mud not only beneficial effects on the skin, nourishing and moisturizing it, but also combats skin diseases, reduces the pain of sciatica and arthritis.

The basis of many cosmetic products are mud from this source. Adoption of mud baths also contributes to the formation in the human body of biologically active substances that have a positive effect and strengthen the immune system. To get the maximum effect from the application of the therapeutic mud, we also recommend to order an additional massage.

After the mud baths it is recommended to rinse the healing garment in the crystal clear waters of the Aegean Sea and only after that continue the wellness program in the bubbling mineral springs.

The springs on the island descend down the rocks and form small ponds, in which it is good to bathe and take baths. The healing effect of thermal baths was discovered by accident in ancient times. Julius Caesar during the next military campaign noticed that the damaged hooves and joints of horses recovered faster if the horse walked for a while on the thermal springs and the mud they form.

Modern science has confirmed the health effects of mineral water on the human body, including for the prevention of disease. Like the therapeutic mud, thermal springs contain various salts and biologically active elements. On average, mineral water contains from 1% to 5% of such substances.

Kara Ada thermal waters help with arthritis, radiculitis, and skin diseases. They also help relieve stress, relax and unwind.

Thermal waters of the Black Island have both indications (e.g. diseases of the musculoskeletal nervous system, trauma, etc.), and contraindications (e.g. acute inflammatory processes, exacerbation of chronic diseases, cancer, certain gynecological diseases, allergies, and so on), so you should not visit them without consulting your doctor.

Clean air and quiet island, barely perceptible in the air smell of plants to help cope with insomnia, headaches, relieve tension and stress. On Black Island, you can relax from the hustle and bustle and engage in active sports.

Crystal clear coastal waters Kara Ada is ideal place for diving even for inexperienced divers. Picturesque coral forests and fascinatingly beautiful rock formations are located at a depth of five meters. Coral thickets go down to a depth of twenty meters. Here you can meet morays, starfish, octopus and other inhabitants of the underwater kingdom. Many divers are lucky and find fragments of ancient ancient amphorae or ancient coins as trophies.