Chimera
Chimera is situated 8kms from Olympos. Scientists are as mystified as the people of ancient times as to how fire spontaneously erupts from holes in the mountain. Chimaera was another Lycian city, and is named after the mythological son of Typhon. Legend has it that the Chimaera was killed by Bellerophon who mounted Pegasus and bombarded the Chimaera with molten lead. From a realistic viewpoint, the most logical reason for the flames is that it is natural gas seeping through cracks in the earth – although scientists are still unable to discover the compounds of the gases. The mythological reason for the fires is far more interesting than the scientific one – let the visitor decide! To truly appreciate the effects of the Chimaera it is best to visit the area in the evening. The almost pyrotechnic effect is most impressive during the hours of darkness. Looking away from the magic of the fires there is the added bonus of spectacular views of the Lycian ruins above.