Kahramanmaras is a city in Akdeniz, Turkey and the administrative center of Kahramanmaras Province. Before 1973, Kahramanmaras was named Marash. The city lies on a plain at the foot of the Ahir Dagi and has a population of 575,000 as of 2013. The region is best known for its production of salep, a flour made from dried orchid tubers, and its distinctive ice cream. It is connected by air to Istanbul and Ankara. Turkish Airlines has daily direct flights from İstanbul and also AnadoluJet operates direct flights from Ankara.