The foundation of Manavgat is not known certain, but estimated at B.C. 200-150. As understood from the early documents, cargo and human transportation had been made on the river, from the very first centuries till recent years. Manavgat has become a village of Turkish Republic at 1913.
The town Manavgat, which is 76 km far from the province Antalya. was founded on the plain that lies on both sides of the River Manavgat. The city center is 4 km far from the shore of the Mediterranean. The Northern part of the town is bordered by the Taurus Mountains covered with beautiful forests. The river Manavgat, which flows through the town, gives the plain fertility and richness. The Manavgat Waterfall and its delta are the most important natural richness of the town. The other natural beauties of the region in the South are the Sorgun Forest with pine trees and the lake “Titreyengöl”, which was formed by alluvions that filled the delta of the River Manavgat.
In the Northern part of the river Manavgat there is the Lake of Oymapınar Dam. It was built in the deep valley of the river in the Taurus Mountains. The Dam and its surroundings have a unique beauty. The region is one of the places for Jeep Safaris the plain of Manavgat, which is 2500 m2. is the most fertile plain of the province Antalya and is suitable for growing cotton, wheat, barley and 45 different kinds of fruit and vegetables. Fruit and vegetables growing in greenhousees in an important from of farming in the region. Greenhouse flowering has also improved recently. In the far East of the plain bananas are grown in the gardens. Trout and shrimps are bred in some parts of the river. During the recent years parallel to the growth of tourism, losts of modern hotel motels and holiday villages have been built in the region o Sorgun and Titreyengöl. The history of the town is known to be very old and it is believed that the name Manavgat comesfrom the word “Munouwa” in the old language of luwi, meaning temple of matrilineal Goddess.
The place was supposed to be used as the sacred area of the Antique cities Seleukeia and Side in different periods.
There are numerous ruins of ancient cities in the district of Gundogmus, 182 km from Antalya. The important ruins are those of Hagiasophia city, 7 km north of Guzel Bag Bucagi, but no excavations have been conducted here. There are also the ruins of Asar at Sumene (7 km from the city centre), Kese (2 km east of the village of Senir) and Gedfi (11 km southwest of Gundogmus).
North of Antalya Bay, Akseki is located on the north shore and Ibradi on the south shore of the Melas (Manavgat) River, at an altitude of 1000 m.