Erdemli is a town and district of Mersin Province in the Mediterranean region of Turkey. This is an attractive forested coastal district and Erdemli is now attracting investment in infrastructure to develop a tourist industry.

The district extends from the Mediterranean coastal plain, the largest agricultural area in Mersin province to high in the Taurus Mountains, where there is forest and then a large area (half the land area of the district) is high mountain above the treeline.

There is no industry except some hand-weaving of rugs so the local economy depends on agriculture; the coastal plain is covered with citrus fruits, bananas and all kinds of fruits and vegetables grown year-round under glass; High meadows in the mountains are planted with grains pulses and fruits such as apples, peaches and cherries and at these altitudes there are also vineyards, olive groves and fig trees. Erdemli is therefore a quiet rural district where the people are conservative, and is traditionally a stronghold of Turkish nationalist politicians. However some departments of Mersin University are opening branches here which will surely have an effect on the cultural and social life of Erdemli in the future.

This is an attractive forested coastal district and Erdemli is now attracting investment in infrastructure to develop a tourist industry.

The coast is home to the endangered Mediterranean Monk Seal and Middle East Technical University in Ankara has a centre for marine research here, primarily to monitor the seals.