ABOUT T R A B Z O N

General Information

Area: 4.685 km²

Population: 795.849 (1990)

Traffic Code: 61

The modern city of Trabzon is the largest port along the Black Sea coast, and at beginning of Caucassia and Iran transit road. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, there has been an influx of traders from the CIS, especially neighbouring Georgia, and the city is becoming more cosmopolitan.

Trabzon is probably best remembered from the classic novel, “The Towers of Trebizond”, and many earlier pieces of travel literature, although little remains of the romanticised image of exotic culture and architecture. One of the highlights is Aya Sofia, the medieval church with outstanding Byzantine frescoes, the Russian Market and the old houses and mosques dotted around the town. Trabzon is a good transport hub from which to explore the Black Sea region.

DISTRICTS

Trabzon (center), Akçabaabat, Araklı, Arsin, Beşikdüzü, Çarşıbaşı, Çaykara, Dernekpazarı, Düzköy, Hayrat, Köprübaşı, Maçka, Of, Sürmene, Şalpazarı, Tonya, Vakfıkebir, Yomra.

HISTORY & GEOGRAPY OF TRABZON

Trabzon is the emerald green city of the Black Sea Coast. Its history goes back to 2000 BC. However, the founders of Trabzon are unknown. It is believed that, the founders of the city came to Trabzon from Middle Asia by passing over the Caucasus. The name of the city is first cited in the Xenophon's book Anabasis as "Trapezus". The city takes this name because of the table like shape of the Middle Tower (Ortahisar) and the Upper Tower (Yukarıhisar) parts which are the ancient centre of the city. In the ancient silk route Trabzon had an important point between Europa and Asia, because of that the city became a motherland for many civilizations throughout history.

Since the ancient ages of the history Trabzon has sheltered humanity and hence has gained rich cultural heritage filled by the local stories and folk songs.

Throughout history, Trabzon was inhabited by the Milletians, Persians, Romans, Byzantine and Comnenos dynasty. In the beginning of 13th century the Comnenos dynasty ruled the city over 250 years untill the October 26. 1461 conquered by the Fatih Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror.

The museums, monasteries, mosques, tombs, inns, baths, bedestans and citadel surrounding the city, examples of civil architectures, bazaars, have been woven to the history of the Trabzon as an embrodery. The mystic town of the east was praised with many compliments by many visiting scholars amongst whom Marco Polo and Evliya Çelebi deserve a special attention.

Called as "Magnificient" by the westerns, the Kanuni Sultan Süleyman was born in Trabzon and grown up there till 15 years old. There are many kinds of historical monuments still stand up in Trabzon Besides the historical and cultural monuments, lakes,streams, mountains, high plateaus, are the natural features for Trabzon. In addition to, the many natural beauties created of rainy climate, handworking historical monuments attract the visitors. Golden and silver; in the hands of the craftsmen from Trabzon are melted and converted to the Kazazlık and Hasır Bilezik. Folk dances, kemence, another folkloric elements are the symbols of Trabzon which introduce it to all of the world. Trabzon with its natural location historical monuments, ever green vegetation cover and year round opportunities is a valuable treasure worth seeing.

Tobacco, hazelnut and tea harvesting come at the top of agriculture production and hence provide significant contribution to the city's economy. Anchovy became a subject for poets and has a special place in the city cusine, Kuymak, made up of a mixture of corn flour with Trabzon' s butter and cheese maintains its special place in the local cusine. At the beginning of the 1990's only four foreign trade firms had head offices in Trabzon, but by 1995 this had expanded to 500, and consequently foreign investment rate continues to grow.

Trabzon is having an increasing importance as an international trade centre, functioning as a bridge between the Caucasus, Central Asia and the West and is playing an important role in the growing trade between the Middle-East and the CIS, with its university, modern port, international airport, free zone and tourism potential, Trabzon looks forward to a bright and prosperous future.

TOURISM CENTERS

Araklı-Pazarcık Tourism Center: It is located in a small town called Karadere, which is 43 km to the south of Araklı. It is a high plateau center where you can get an easy access to Gümüşhane and Bayburt via Yağmurdere and Aydıntepe. It offers a variety of facilities such as a post-office, shopping centres and so on.

Araklı-Yeşilyurt-Yılantaş Tourism Center: It is located in the boundaries of Yeşilyurt a town in Araklı. It is 10 km. from the country center and 64 km.to Trabzon

Maçka-Şolma Tourism Center: From Maçka 22 km of secondary road leads to Şolma Plateau. The plateau is 1850 meters above the sea level. Facilities such as electricity, water, phone, local market, grocer, butcher, cafeteria are available.

Akçaabat-Karadağ Tourism Center: Visitors get to the plateau by driving for 28 km on a secondary road after turning to the west at far 12. Km on the Akçaabat-Düzköy road. On the plateau which is about 1946 mt. above the sea level, there, electricity, water, a general market, bucther and an open air cafeteria are available.

Trabzon-Tonya-Armutlu-Gümüşhane-Kürtün-Erikbeli-Tourism Center: You can get to Erikbeli high plateau 25 km. after Tonya and 34 km. after Şalpazarı which is located at about 1800 mt above the sea level. It also has electricity, water, telephone etc.

LAKES AND CAVES

Sera Lake: It is on the Sera stream west of Trabzon, 8 km away, near Demirtaş village. It was formed as a result of landslide. The width is about 150-200 and the length is 4 km.

Uzungöl: Uzungöl a pristine, trout-filled lake hemmed in by steep coniferous covered mountain is 99 km east of Trabzon via Çaykara. The arduous and bumpy 19 rıght from Çaykara follows a white water stream throught hillsides of terrace hazel-nut trees and corn fields

Cal Cave: At an altitude of 1050 meters, Çalköy cave is located in the district of Düzköy. The cave has an adequate illumination and excursion platform. There is enough circulation of air in the cave due to the dolines. At the entrance to the cave air is dry whereas it is dank and humid inside because of the flowing river.

Balıklı Lake: It was formed because of the geographical situations.It is located on the way to Hıdırnebi High-Plateau from Akçaabat. Due to natural beauties it is used by the many visitors as restling and picnic area.