Turkish court auctions Aegean island natural wonder for $15.17M
Aerial view of Garip Island in Izmir, Türkiye. (AA Photo)
Garip Island, located in the Aegean Sea, has been put up for auction by a Turkish enforcement court.
The bidding for the island will begin on Jan. 22, 2025, through the Electronic National Judicial Network Information System (e-UYAP) sales portal, and final bids must be submitted by 10:17 a.m. on Jan. 29, 2025. The electronic auction will start at a minimum bid of ₺536 million ($15.17 million).
The 358-acre island, transferred to the Turkish Saving and Deposit Insurance Fund (SDIF), was previously valued at ₺1.73 billion by the Dikili Enforcement Court in Izmir.
Foreign ownership prohibited
Garip Island is located just 13 nautical miles from Greece’s Lesbos Island, 4 km from Dikili, 10 km from Candarli, and 19 km from Bergama. The island, partially covered with pine and olive trees, features a southern shoreline with a sandy stretch approximately 500 meters long and 100 to 200 meters wide.
On the other hand, the deed for Garip Island specifies it as a “strictly protected sensitive area,” prohibiting its sale to foreign buyers.
Currently, there are liens on the island, registered in company records, including claims by the Social Security Institution (SGK) and various tax offices.
