Karadeniz Ereğli

For other uses, see Ereğli (disambiguation).
Ereğli

Ereğli coast
Ereğli
Coordinates: TR 41°15′30″N 31°25′30″E / 41.25833°N 31.42500°E / 41.25833; 31.42500Coordinates: TR 41°15′30″N 31°25′30″E / 41.25833°N 31.42500°E / 41.25833; 31.42500
Country Turkey
Province Zonguldak
Government
  Mayor Hüseyin Uysal (AKP)
  Kaymakam İbrahim Çay
Area[1]
  District 976.26 km2 (376.94 sq mi)
Population (2012)[2]
  Urban 102,828
  District 173,933
  District density 180/km2 (460/sq mi)
Post code 67300
Climate Cfb
Website www.kdzeregli.bel.tr

Karadeniz Ereğli is a city and district in Zonguldak Province of Turkey, on the Black Sea shore at the mouth of the Kılıçsu River. Population is 102,828 as of 2012. The mayor is Hüseyin Uysal.

Facts

Modern Ereğli is the home of Erdemir, Turkey's largest steel plant. It has a large natural harbour, located in the lee of Baba Burnu and therefore one of the few geographically attractive places for a harbour on the western Black Sea coast of Turkey. Ereğli is a very lively coastal town, well developed due to the presence of the steel plant. Fishing is a major commercial activity in addition. Because of its Black Sea beach, Ereğli is a popular tourist destination locally. The city does not have an airport (Erdemir has a small private field) or rail station, but can be reached by automobile or bus from Ankara, Istanbul and other places.

Aside from fishing and steel, Ereğli is also well known for its delicious Ottoman strawberry.

The discoverer of the northern Turkish coalfields, Uzun Mehmet, lived in the Kestaneci Köyü ("Chestnut-seller Village") section of Ereğli.

History

Main article: Heraclea Pontica

The city was a Greek city in ancient times known as Heraclea Pontica after the Greek mythical hero Heracles. The Turkish name Karadeniz Ereğli means "Black Sea Ereğli" (kara="black", deniz="sea"), which distinguishes it from other places called Ereğli (the name Ereğli derives from Heraclea).

It was founded by a Megarian colony, which soon subjugated the native Mariandynians and extended its power over a considerable territory. The prosperity of the city, rudely shaken by the Galatians and the Bithynians, was utterly destroyed in the Mithridatic Wars. It was the birthplace of Heraclides Ponticus. According to Greek mythology, the cave guarded by the three-headed dog Cerberus is located near the town. For his final quest, Heracles is tasked with entering the cave and capturing Cerberus.

In the late 19th and early 20th century, Karadeniz Ereğli was part of the Kastamonu Vilayet of the Ottoman Empire.

Sports

Zonguldak 1. amateur leagues and the in the 2012-2013 Beko Basketball League Erdemirspor

See also

References

  1. "Area of regions (including lakes), km²". Regional Statistics Database. Turkish Statistical Institute. 2002. Retrieved 2013-03-05.
  2. "Population of province/district centers and towns/villages by districts - 2012". Address Based Population Registration System (ABPRS) Database. Turkish Statistical Institute. Retrieved 2013-02-27.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ereğli.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Sunday, March 15, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.