Country Turkey District Erdemli Time zone EET (UTC+2) Population 564 (2012) | Province Mersin Province Elevation 1,330 m (4,360 ft) Postal code 33730 Area code 0324 | |
Sarıkaya (“yellow-rock”, Also called Sarıcakaya,”yellowish rock”)) is a village in Erdemli district of Mersin Province, Turkey. It is at 36°46′N 34°07′E. Distance to Erdemli is 33 kilometres (21 mi) and to Mersin is 69 kilometres (43 mi). The village is situated in the southern slopes of Toros Mountains and in summers it is used as a summer resort so called yayla. There are cedar forests around the village. The population of Sarıkaya was 564 as of 2012 excluding summer settlers. The village was founded by a Turkmens tribe from Karaman in the 18th century. Initially, they had founded another village now called Yanıkköy (“burnt village”) ; but for reasons unknown, they had a clash with other Turkmens who had previously settled around and during the clashes Yanıkköy was burned down. Sarıcakaya was their next home. The main economic activity of the village is animal breeding. Fruits like cherry, apple and peach are also produced.