Elevation 1,067 m University Firat University Area 2,211.07 km2 | Region Eastern Anatolia Mayor Mucahit Yanilmaz (AKP) Population 347,857 | |
Elazig is a city in Eastern Anatolia, Turkey and the administrative center of Elazig Province. It is located in the uppermost Euphrates valley. The plain on which the city extends has an altitude of 1067 metres. Elazig resembles an inland peninsula surrounded by the natural Lake Hazar and reservoirs of Keban Dam, Karakaya Dam, Kralkizi and Ozluce.
Contents
Map of Elazig
Elazig initially developed in 1834 as an extension of the historic city of Harput, which was situated on a hill and difficult to access in winter.
Aziz sehir elazig
History
The city of Elazig was founded among the skirts of the hill on which the historical Harput Castle was constructed. According to the present historical sources, the most ancient inhabitants of Harput was the Hurrian nation who settled in these parts in c2000 B.C.
Harput, and its surrounding region was part of the kingdom of Urartu at the period of its maximum extension.
The ancient town and citadel called Kharput (Kharpert), which means "rocky fortress" in Armenian, was built by the first Armenian kings about five km (3.1 miles) from modern Elazig. However, very little written material about this city reached our day. It is possible that Harput stands on or is near the site of Carcathio-certa in Sophene, reached by Corbulo in A.D. 65. The early Muslim geographers knew it as Hisn Ziyad, but the Armenian name, Khartabirt or Kharbirt, whence Kharput and Harput, was generally adopted in time.
William of Tyre wrote that Joscelin I, Count of Edessa (Jocelyn) of Courtenay, and King Baldwin II of Jerusalem were prisoners of the Amir Balak in Kharputs castle and that they were rescued by their Armenian allies. William of Tyre calls the place Quart Piert or Pierre.
Harput and its vicinity fell under Turkish control in the year 1085 as the outcome of the Manzikert battle on August 26, 1071. The Cubukogullari, Artuqids, Aq Qoyunlu and Ottomans had reigned in the region
Harput is still partly settled today, but due to its high elevation and lack of water it is slowly in the process of being abandoned, with most of its residents moving to Elazig. Harput still has a few thousand inhabitants.
Harput was the seat of a Syrian Orthodox bishop as early as the eleventh century, whose diocese was initially called Hisn Ziyad and later Harput. The last Syrian Orthodox bishop of Harput, Cyril Mansur, was murdered along with many of the towns Christians during the Armenian Genocide and Assyrian Genocide of 1915.
An Armenian Catholic diocese of Kharput was created in 1850.
Economy
In the late 19th and early 20th century, Elazig exported raisins, apricots and almonds to Europe. Opium was also grown in the area. Honey was also produced, but not so much exported, but used by locals. Gold was also found in the area in the early 20th century.
Geography
Elazig is situated at the northwestern corner of a 30-mile-long valley, known locally as Uluova (literally the Great Valley). The areas Armenians called this valley "Vosgetashd" (the Golden Plain). Its altitude is 3,300 feet: latitude and longitude are respectively: 38 degrees and 41 minutes North, and 39 degrees and 14 minutes East. Elazig Province is surrounded by the Euphrates in the north, and since the completion of Keban Dam the rivers came to cover almost ten percent of the surface area (826 km²) of the province (8,455 km²). Elazigs adjacent province borders are with: Tunceli (North), Erzincan (North-West), Bingol (East), Diyarbakir (South), and Malatya (West).
Attractions
Cuisine
Elazig cuisine is the second richest among all cities in Turkey with 154 different types of food and drinks according to a study conducted by Ankara Chamber of Commerce. Particularly those originated in the historic city of Harput have an important fame in the region and the country. Apart from famous meat platters most of which include meatballs, naturally dried fruits and vegetables and using them in main dishes is unique to Elazig cuisine. Several examples could include:
Elazig is also very famous with its vineyards, and two types of grape varieties Okuzgozu and Bogazkere.