Mount Chimaera, Natural gas flames in Olympos National Park, Turkey
Mount Chimaera is a hillside with natural gas flames burning from rocky ground in Olympos National Park, where methane escapes from cracks and ignites as it meets air. The flames appear at multiple spots across the slope where this chemical process occurs.
The ancient Greek scholar Strabo recorded these burning flames in the first century AD, making them part of written history. For more than two thousand years, these fires have been mentioned in accounts of the region.
The mountain draws its name from ancient Greek mythology, where a fire-breathing creature called the Chimera was said to dwell. This mythological link shapes how visitors understand the place today.
The walk to the site goes uphill and takes about 30 minutes from the parking area. The flames show up best after dark, so planning a visit for evening hours works well for viewing.
The flames burn continuously, yet if one is extinguished, the gas naturally reignites at a different spot nearby. This self-sustaining fire phenomenon connects in a strange way to the mythological tale of the place.
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