Ayazma Plajı, Sandy beach in Bozcaada, Turkey
Ayazma Beach is a sandy shore on the western coast of Bozcaada, a small Turkish island in the Aegean Sea. It sits inside a sheltered bay framed by pine trees and pale limestone cliffs, with fine sand and a gradual slope into the water.
The bay was known in Byzantine times for a freshwater spring near the shore that supplied passing ships traveling through the Aegean. That spring gave the place its name and made the bay a regular stop for sailors over many centuries.
The name Ayazma comes from the Greek word for a holy spring, pointing to the place's old religious meaning. Today visitors gather here to enjoy the bay, which sits between pine trees and low cliffs on the western side of the island.
The beach is reachable from Bozcaada town by car or minibus and is easy to access during summer. Going early in the day means fewer people on the sand and a better chance of finding a good spot along the shore.
The water here stays noticeably cold even at the height of summer because underground springs feed directly into the bay. These are the same sources that gave the place its name centuries ago.
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