The
Büyük Menderes River (historically the
Maeander or
Meander, from
Ancient Greek: Μαίανδρος,
Maíandros; ), is a river in southwestern
Turkey. It rises in west central Turkey near
Dinar before flowing west through the Büyük Menderes
graben until reaching the
Aegean Sea in the proximity of the ancient
Ionian city
Miletus. The word "
meander" is used to describe a winding pattern, after the river.