Turkey Travel

Turkey Population

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The population of Turkey is 62.8 million according to the results of the General Population Count made in November 1997. Along with the continuation of the differences among the regions, a decrease in the rate of population growth has been observed in recent years in parallel with the decrease in the total fertility rate in the country in general. Indeed, the annual average population increase was 15.1 per thousand between 1990-1997. If the population growth rate remains stable, then it is expected that the population will reach 65.3 million by the middle of the year 2000. One of the most significant attributes of the population in Turkey is the fact that it is a young population. The ratio of the population under 30 years of age within the total population is at such a high degree that its precedent is rarely encountered in the world.

Turkey is one of the countries with the most rapid process of urbanization in the world. There is a great migration into the cities from rural areas and the urban population is increasing rapidly. Even if decreases have been observed in the birth rate and the mortality rate over time, the migration movement did not lose much momentum. The population is concentrated especially in the large provinces and industrial regions. Provinces such as Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Adana, Kocaeli, Bursa, Antalya and Gaziantep as industrial or trade centers have dense populations.

The rapid urbanization created by the population coming from the rural areas increases the number of large cities on the one hand, and causes serious problems from the viewpoint of sound urbanization in the large metropolises, on the other.

According to the 1990 census, the general gender ratios are around 100 females to 103 males. Connected to the rapid urbanization as of the 1950s, a decrease has been observed in those living in the rural areas, particularly in the males in the young adult age groups.

The geographical regions in Turkey also show different characteristics from the aspect of the distribution of population. The population in the Western and Southern regions increased between 1975 and 1990, while decreases occurred in the Central, Northern and Eastern regions. These changes in the regional distribution of population in Turkey were caused by the migration from the Eastern and Northern regions to the Western and Southern metropolises. Especially, the Marmara region, which is the region where trade and industry developed the most, is the region with the highest population density. Besides this, the population also became concentrated on the banks of the rivers and on the arable plains suitable for agriculture.

Turkey's population has been influenced by the fact that Anatolia has been an historical transit route. Numerous civilizations were founded on these lands and many communities of various races settled in Anatolia at different periods of time. The Republic Period, which took over this structure from the past, has displayed a unifying feature.

Mardin

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The Treasure of History. Mardin is a museum city full of 12th and 13th century examples of Turkish architecture built in harmony with nature. The bird’s eye-view of the Mesopotamian Plain from the historical city, founded on the southern terraces of the hardened oil reserves, which were active during the geological ages, is very beautiful. The facades of the houses in the city are beautifully ornamented. Midyat township is known for its extremely beautiful historical houses and silversmithing. A special silver processing art which was called “filigree” (telkari) originated here and spread throughout Turkey. Mardin Castle (10th century A.D.), the Grand Mosque (12th century), Latifiye Mosque (14th century) and the Kasımiye Madrasah (15th century), located in this city which is famous for its citadel, mosques and bridges, are worth seeing. The Dayr-ul Zaferan Monastery is one of the interesting places around the city. The monastery, which is the religious center of Syrian Orthodox Christians, has a history of 1600 years.

The mortal remains of the Syrian patriarchs are in the monastery. Another monastery, which was noted for its rich library and where Syrian scientists were educated, is the Dayrülumur Monastery. It was built on a hill covered with forests.

Diyarbakır

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A City Where Old Meets New: Diyarbakır. The Diyarbakır City Walls were first constructed by the Roman Emperor Constantinus. The city walls were enlarged during the Seljuk and Ottoman periods and 82 towers were added. The Grand Mosque is the oldest and largest mosque in the city. The structure was initially St. Thomas Church and was later converted into a mosque. The Church of the Virgin Mary in the city is an old church dating back to the 3rd century A.D. The number of artifacts exhibited at the Diyarbakır Archaeological Museum, which were collected from the environs exceed 10,000. The houses, where Cahit Sıtkı Tarancı, one of the most famous poets of the Republic of Turkey and Ziya Gökalp, the great Turkish philosopher were born, were also turned into museums.

The folk art of Diyarbakır is very rich. The motifs and colors of the kilims, saddle-bags, socks and felt made at the foot of Karacadağ are very attractive. The Delilo, Halay, Çaçan and Çepik folk dances, which are performed to the accompaniment of a drum and zurna (double-reed instrument similar to an oboe), are very beautiful. Jewelry making, coppersmithing and sericulture are also developed in the city. Watermelons, which can be as heavy as 75 kilos, are the symbol of the city.

Adıyaman

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The City at the Foot of Mount Nemrut. Adıyaman, the cradle of the oldest civilizations in history, is among the most important provinces in Turkey in terms of tourism. Mount Nemrut in Kahta District, the graves, temples and statues of kings seen here are all extremely interesting to tourists. The province has made great progress in agriculture with the introduction of irrigation due to the GAP project. In addition, industrialization has accelerated in recent years.

The Commagene State was founded in the first century B.C. in Adıyaman province. King Antiochus I, who was known as an art lover, decided that his grave be on the summit of Mount Nemrut and said, “Those who visit my grave shall come in their most beautiful attire and the most fragrant perfumes. I will grant them happiness and prosperity for generations on these lands.” In fact, the Mount Nemrut National Park and Mount Nemrut summit, with its impressive silhouette at a height of 2,150 m., is the most frequently visited place in the province.

The Antiochus I Mausoleum, located at the summit of the mountain, is surrounded by three sacred areas in the shape of a terrace carved into the rock, to the east, west and to the north. On the eastern terrace, there are statues of Apollo, the god of art; Tyche (Fortuna), the goddess of fertility and fortune; Zeus, the god of the heavens, Hercules, the god of strength; King Antiochus, and an eagle and a lion. The height of the statues is close to 9 m. The steles of the Commagene Royal Family are to the north and south, and to the east of the terrace, there is a rectangular shaped altar with steps and beside it, a guardian-like lion statue. The western terrace, where there are the same statues, has more impressive sculptures, in spite of the fact that it is more damaged when compared to the eastern terrace. Mount Nemrut has a unique kind of pastoral beauty, especially the view at sunset from the western terrace allows visitors to experience scenes that they will never forget. The most suitable time of year for climbing the mountain is between the 15th of May and the 15th of October.

Şanlıurfa Turkey

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A History Dating Back 9000 Years. Şanlıurfa is a museum-like city that has a history that can be traced back 9000 years. It is the most sacred city in Turkey, since it is where the Prophet Abraham, the forefather of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, was born; the Prophet Job lived and the city that was blessed by Jesus.

The city, which is preparing itself for an industrial and agricultural renaissance in the 21st century with the GAP project, has experienced many innovations in recent years, especially in tourism. Balıklı Lake and its environs, which is the focal point of interest to tourists in the city, have been closed to traffic and landscaped with trees and flora. It is believed that King Nemrut had the Prophet Abraham thrown into a big fire here and that water had sprung up from the fire, saving the Prophet Abraham from being burnt. The water became a lake which we see today and the logs of wood in the fire became the fish in the lake. Around the lake, inhabited by hundreds of carp, there are the Halil Rahman and Rızvaniye Mosques and also various recreational facilities. The cave where the Prophet Abraham was born is located in the courtyard of the Mevlid Halil Mosque, to the east of Balıklı Lake. Şanlıurfa Citadel, extending in an east-west direction, is located to the south of this sacred area. The old Urfa houses, which are on the northern slope from where this sacred view can be seen, have been restored and converted into hotels, pensions and restaurants where examples of traditional Urfa cuisine can be sampled.

Mount Nemrut, ruins dating from the Kommagene era
(B.C. 1. yy.) – ADIYAMAN

Among the most important places in the vicinity of Şanlıurfa is Harran. Harran, which was mentioned in the Holy Books, is one of the focal points of faith tourism in Turkey. According to the Holy Books, the Prophet Abraham rested for a while in Harran when he was travelling from Şanlıurfa to the south. Terah, the father of the Prophet Abraham, died here. Furthermore, the family trees of Moses, Jesus and Mohammed originated in Harran. The traces of various civilizations established in Mesopotamia may be seen around the historical city of Harran. The most interesting structure in Harran, an important cultural center where the

The Southeast Anatolia Region

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The Southeast Anatolia region covers 9.7% of the territory of Turkey. It has a surface area of 75,000 km2. It is adjacent to the East Anatolia and the Mediterranean regions and also borders Syria and Iraq. According to the 2000 census, the population of the region was 6,608,619. 4,143,136 people live in cities and 2,465,483 in villages. It has an annual population growth rate of 24.79‰. Following the Marmara region, this region has the second highest population growth rate in Turkey.

Within the scope of the GAP Project, which changed the fate of the region, irrigated agriculture has been adopted on some plains and the sowing of industrial plants has been accelerated. In fact, there is a boom in cotton production, especially on Harran Plain, which extends from the south of Şanlıurfa, to the Syrian border. The best cotton in the region is grown here.

Petroleum is the most important underground resource in the region. A portion of the crude oil produced in the environs of Raman, Garzan and Kahta, is refined at the Batman Refinery, which is one of the largest industrial establishments in the region. Some of the crude oil is transported by pipeline to filling facilities in the Mediterranean region and then taken to the other regions by tanker.

Gaziantep is the most important industrial city in the Southeast Anatolia region. The textile, machinery and food industries are quite developed here. The cement, food, metal products, agricultural equipment and similar industries are found in Diyarbakır, Mardin and Şanlıurfa where these industries are still developing.

Hakkari

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Four seasons can be experienced at the same time in Hakkari, which is the most mountainous province in Turkey. There are various glacial lakes in the mountains, where permanent glaciers do not melt even in the middle of summer. Beautiful and varied flowers bloom around the lakes during the spring. The Cilo-Sat Mountains in the region afford the most beautiful view in Turkey. There are ideal places for mountain climbers. In the center of the city, Melikesat Madrasah, which displays the characteristics of 15th century architecture, is worth seeing. Zap Valley, on the Van-Hakkari road, has unique beauty. The trout in the Zap Stream are very tasty. There are springs throughout the valley, where ice cold, mountain water flows abundantly.

The Beauty of Van

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Van, located on the southeastern shores of Lake Van, the largest lake in Turkey, was known as Tuşpa, the capital city of the ancient Urartian State (1000 B.C.). Van Citadel was first built by the Urartian King Sardur I, in the 9th century B.C.. It is 80 m. above the level of the lake and extends 1,800 m. from east to west, and 120 m. from north to south. The city is known for its kilims, which are woven using natural dyes. Silversmithing is also developed. The famous Van cats have two eyes, the colors of which do not match, and thick white fur are also famous here. Lake Van is a scenic wonder of East Anatolia. Around the lake, there are picturesque mountain silhouettes, coves, beaches, islands, waterfalls and also centers which date back to the ancient past. Sodium carbonate is abundant in the lake which is at an elevation of 1,720 m. above sea level. The fish in the lake are lean and very delicious. Among the islands in Lake Van, Akdamar Island is the most beautiful. In spring, the island is blanketed by emerald green before any other place in the region.

Bitlis

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The city of Bitlis, which is an important tobacco production center in Turkey, was founded among the mountains on a high plateau. It has an altitude of approximately 1,400 m. At the foot of Mt. Süphan, which is 4,058 m. above sea level and the third highest mountain in Turkey, there are forests and lakes. The scenery of this province is awe-inspiring. Ahlat, located on the shores of Lake Van, where there are very valuable structures remaining from the Middle Ages, is one of the oldest centers in the province. The beautiful examples of Turkish artists have integrated with the turquoise tones of Lake Van to form scenes, which are too beautiful to be described in words. The Seljuk Cemetery at Ahlat is an artistic statement unmatched in the world. Tatvan, located to the west of Lake Van, is a lovely town, which has a port sheltered from the winds. The ferryboats departing from Tatvan port make round trips between Tatvan and Van harbor.

City of Apricots. Malatya and Elazığ

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Malatya and its environs have been settled by various peoples since the dawn of history. Malatya, which is located in the middle of a fertile plateau and irrigated by many large and small streams, is a city where various fruits are grown, including its world famous apricots. The city, with its planned urbanization, is presently a major East Anatolian city; with its industry, medical facilities and university.
Battalgazi to the north of the city is an important historical center. The citadel in Battalgazi was first constructed by Titus, the Roman Emperor, in the 1st century A.D. and then restored extensively by the Seljuks in the 12th century. The Battalgazi Grand Mosque is the only example of a mosque plan in Anatolia with vaulted recesses. The Aslantepe archaeological excavation site is located at a distance of 4 km. from the provincial center on the Battalgazi road.

Elazığ is a city of lakes and rivers and is replete with scenic wonders. It is located in the center of wide plains surrounded by purple colored mountains. A large variety of food products from grains to rice are grown on the land made fertile by the abundant waters of the large rivers. There are also rich underground mineral deposits in the region. Elazığ is one of the best planned cities in Turkey and has quite a developed industry. The history of Harput which is 5 km. to the north of Elazığ, dates back to ancient times. Many artists and