Black Sea Region

From Turkey Travel Guide

Black Sea Region

[edit] Location

Black Sea Region is located in the north part of Turkey, surrounded by Marmara Region on the west, Central Anatolia Region on the south, Eastern Anatolia Region on the east and the Black Sea(Karadeniz) on the north.

To the east, it borders Georgia and Russia, Ukraine to the north across the sea, and Bulgaria and Romania to the west.

[edit] Provinces

• Amasya
• Artvin
• Bartın
• Bayburt
• Bolu
• Çorum
• Düzce
• Giresun
• Gümüşhane
• Karabük
• Kastamonu
• Ordu
• Rize
• Samsun
• Sinop
• Tokat
• Trabzon
• Zonguldak

[edit] History

The Black Sea region dates back to 9000 BC with the Ancient Greeks, and the story of Jason and the Argonauts. The epic explains how Jason, angered by an uncle's inheritance to his father's kingdom in Thessaly, was persuaded to leave his homeland and seek the Golden Fleece, which was located at the far end of the Black Sea.

The famous capital city of Trabzon was established by Greek colonists from Sinope, modern day Sinop. The city was included in the writings of Homer, Herodotus, Hesiodos, and Xenophon. Since those times, the region has been conquered by several empires, including the Greeks, Romans, Empire of Trabzon, and the Ottomans. During Byzantium, the region became an important place for the Orthodox church, as several monasteries and churches were constructed. Under Ottoman rule, several of the Christian sites were converted into mosques, however, much of the Christian community was protected and preserved.

With the establishment of the Turkish Republic in 1923, forced population exchanges were mandated, and the Greeks of the region were replaced with Turks from Greece. Thus, the region is known for its distinct dialect, which is a combination of native regional words mixed with Greek and Turkish.

The Black Sea itself has historically been the crossroads of the ancient world. With the Balkans to the west, Eurasia in the north, Caucasus and Central Asia to the East, Asia Minor and Mesopotamia to the south, the sea was constantly used for trade and war. Some of the sea's ancient ports are said to be older than the pyramids of Egypt.

During both World Wars, the Black Sea played a significant role, as it was used for battle and travel.

[edit] Geography

The area of Black Sea Region is about 140,000 km2. The Black Sea region consists of a rocky coastline, with rivers and gorges throughout its mountainous ranges. The high hills are densely forested, offering a different climate to the much Mediterranean climate of the eastern and southern part of Turkey.

The region is also heavy in natural production, including the area of Samsun which produces major tobacco fields, and the Trabzon region, which is known for its hazelnuts. Further east lays the Rize region, which is known for its lush tea plantations. Intertwined within all these plantations are vast slopes and fields used for farming and pasture, which is ideal since the weather is mild and damp due to its proximity to the Black Sea.

[edit] Climate

The Black Sea coast has the greatest amount of precipitation in Turkey throughout the year. The climate is usually moist and warm, with summer temperatures at around 23C, and winter temperatures at around 7C.

[edit] Places to See

The Black Sea region is a vast stretch of coastline, combined with its history from Ancient Greece to modern day Turkey, it makes for an amazing place to visit. Since it is dense with forestation, it is a prime location for hiking and camping. Some recommended places to visit are:

Amasya:

Harsene Kalesi - The ruins of this medieval castle still stands today.

Ottoman Mansions - There are several well-preserved Ottoman mansions.

The Archaeological Museum of Amasya - This museum houses a large amount of artifacts from ancient Greek times to the Ottoman era.

Lake Borabay- This crater lake is known for its trout fishing, fresh air, and picnic areas. A great way to spend the day away from bustling tourist attractions and lines.

Rize:

There are four Byzantine castles nestled in the Mt. Avup (Avup Dağı).

Samsun:

Kultur Sarayi (Palace of Culture) - Several concerts are held at thte palace of culture throughout the year, and if planned accordingly, makes a great venue for your travels.

Archaeological and Atatürk Museum - The museum houses ancient artifacts from the Samsun area, as well as an Atatürk section that includes photographs personal belongings. Museum hours are from 8:30am-12:00pm and 2:00pm-5:00pm.

Pazar Mosque - Built by the Ilhanid Mongols in the 13th century, today it is Samsun's oldest standing building.

Sinop:

Sinop Fortress Prison- This former state-run prison is located in the inside of Sinop Fortress. It is one of the oldest prisons of Turkey, established in 1887. The prison was later closed down in 1997, but today, has made an interesting site for tourism.

Trabzon:

Sumela Monestary - Located on the Altındere valley in the Maçka region of Trabzon Province, it is now a major tourist attraction of Altındere National Park. Built around the year 386AD, legend has it that two priests undertook the founding of the monastery on the site after having discovered a miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary in a cave on the mountain. Its inclusion into the Ottoman Empire, granted it protection by order of the Sultan, and it was given rights and privileges which were renewed by following sultans. Unfortunately, the monastery was seized by the Russian Empire during the occupation of Trabzon between 1916-1918, and after the Turkish Republic was founded in 1923, the monastery was completely abandoned. Today, the monastery is a popular tourist attraction, as it holds cultural and historical significance to the region.