Black Sea Coast Attractions
Black Sea region
Kirklareli, Istanbul, Kocaeli, Sakarya, Bolu, Zonguldak, Kastamonu, Sinop, Samsun, Ordu, Giresun, Trabzon, Rize, Artvin
Total length: 2,000km/760mi
Coastal landscape
Bathing beaches
The Turkish Black Sea coast with its rich vegetation will come as a surprise to those who think of Turkey as a hot, dry land. Ridges of mountains with dense pine forests and gentle river valleys, mi of bathing beaches, busy ports and sleepy fishing villages with their typical wooden houses, plus a mild, wet climate in which hazelnuts, maize, rice and tea flourish, are in sharp contrast to the high plateaux of inland Anatolia.
Characteristics
These regions along the Turkish Black Sea coasts (Kara Deniz in Turkish) with their wealth of natural beauties are bordered by the Pontic Mountains which at 4,000m/13,000ft dominate the northern Anatolian hinterland. As a result of erosion, however, the coast has fewer bays and inlets than any other part of the Turkish coastline. The climate in the western regions is cooler so that even at the height of summer it never becomes too hot, while the eastern half is very warm and rainy. In Rize, for example, annual precipitation can amount to 2,500mm/100 ins, creating a favorable environment for the area's extensive forests. These northern coastal regions are well worth an extended visit not just for their many bathing resorts, most of them with good sandy beaches, but also for their rich and varied history.
Tea plantations and processing
In the Rize region, tea growing has become an important part of the local economy. In 1938 Mustafa Kemal Atatürk decided to make black tea (çay in Turkish) the national drink instead of expensive imported coffee and now Turkish tea consumption is met by the Black Sea growers. Acid soil, plenty of rain, high humidity (78%), warm summers (35°C/95°F) and mild winters (minimum -8°C/18°F) provide the ideal conditions for tea production. Tea is harvested in April and May.
Myth and history
The coastal strip along the Pontos Euxeinos, the "hospitable sea", has featured prominently in Greek mythology, including the legends of Promotheus, the warlike Amazons and the Argonauts who sailed from Kolchis in the "Argo" in search of the Golden Fleece. From the seventh century B.C. onwards, Greek colonies have flourished all along the coast and most were founded by Miletus, including Amisos, Kotyora, Kerasus and Trapezous. In 281 B.C. after the death of Antigonos, Mithradetes V founded the kingdom of Pontos, which reached its zenith under Mithradetes Eupator the Great (120-63 B.C.). After the capture of Constantinople by the Crusaders in 1204 the Byzantine dynasty of the Comneni ruled the empire of Trebizond (Trapezous) which extended from Thermodon to Phasis. Trapezous then became the leading commercial city of the ancient world. In 1461, however, Sultan Mehmet II conquered these territories and incorporated them into the Ottoman Empire.
On May 19th 1919 Kemal Pasa (Atatürk) landed at Samsun - an event of decisive importance in modern Turkish history. It marked the beginning of the campaign to free Turkey from foreign occupation, leading to the abolition of the Sultanate and the establishment of the Turkish Republic.
Access
Although the western half of the Black Sea coast between the Bulgarian frontier and Ince Burun, the most northerly point in Asia Minor, is not served by a modern highway, a fine coast road runs east from Sinop (in antiquity the most powerful of the Greek Black Sea colonies) right through to the Turkish-Georgian border. It passes through a series of interesting towns including Samsun, the most important port and commercial center on the north coast of Turkey, Trabzon (ancient Trabezous and later Trebizond), the tea-producing town of Rize and administrative center of the mountainous region of Lazistan and the little Turkish port of Hopa just a few miles from the Georgian frontier.
A boat service runs from Istanbul to Zonguldak, Sinop, Samsun, Giresun and Trabzon. In addition, air services connect Istanbul and Ankara with Samsun and Trabzon.
Kirklareli, Istanbul, Kocaeli, Sakarya, Bolu, Zonguldak, Kastamonu, Sinop, Samsun, Ordu, Giresun, Trabzon, Rize, Artvin
Total length: 2,000km/760mi
Coastal landscape
Bathing beaches
The Turkish Black Sea coast with its rich vegetation will come as a surprise to those who think of Turkey as a hot, dry land. Ridges of mountains with dense pine forests and gentle river valleys, mi of bathing beaches, busy ports and sleepy fishing villages with their typical wooden houses, plus a mild, wet climate in which hazelnuts, maize, rice and tea flourish, are in sharp contrast to the high plateaux of inland Anatolia.
Characteristics
These regions along the Turkish Black Sea coasts (Kara Deniz in Turkish) with their wealth of natural beauties are bordered by the Pontic Mountains which at 4,000m/13,000ft dominate the northern Anatolian hinterland. As a result of erosion, however, the coast has fewer bays and inlets than any other part of the Turkish coastline. The climate in the western regions is cooler so that even at the height of summer it never becomes too hot, while the eastern half is very warm and rainy. In Rize, for example, annual precipitation can amount to 2,500mm/100 ins, creating a favorable environment for the area's extensive forests. These northern coastal regions are well worth an extended visit not just for their many bathing resorts, most of them with good sandy beaches, but also for their rich and varied history.
Tea plantations and processing
In the Rize region, tea growing has become an important part of the local economy. In 1938 Mustafa Kemal Atatürk decided to make black tea (çay in Turkish) the national drink instead of expensive imported coffee and now Turkish tea consumption is met by the Black Sea growers. Acid soil, plenty of rain, high humidity (78%), warm summers (35°C/95°F) and mild winters (minimum -8°C/18°F) provide the ideal conditions for tea production. Tea is harvested in April and May.
Myth and history
The coastal strip along the Pontos Euxeinos, the "hospitable sea", has featured prominently in Greek mythology, including the legends of Promotheus, the warlike Amazons and the Argonauts who sailed from Kolchis in the "Argo" in search of the Golden Fleece. From the seventh century B.C. onwards, Greek colonies have flourished all along the coast and most were founded by Miletus, including Amisos, Kotyora, Kerasus and Trapezous. In 281 B.C. after the death of Antigonos, Mithradetes V founded the kingdom of Pontos, which reached its zenith under Mithradetes Eupator the Great (120-63 B.C.). After the capture of Constantinople by the Crusaders in 1204 the Byzantine dynasty of the Comneni ruled the empire of Trebizond (Trapezous) which extended from Thermodon to Phasis. Trapezous then became the leading commercial city of the ancient world. In 1461, however, Sultan Mehmet II conquered these territories and incorporated them into the Ottoman Empire.
On May 19th 1919 Kemal Pasa (Atatürk) landed at Samsun - an event of decisive importance in modern Turkish history. It marked the beginning of the campaign to free Turkey from foreign occupation, leading to the abolition of the Sultanate and the establishment of the Turkish Republic.
Access
Although the western half of the Black Sea coast between the Bulgarian frontier and Ince Burun, the most northerly point in Asia Minor, is not served by a modern highway, a fine coast road runs east from Sinop (in antiquity the most powerful of the Greek Black Sea colonies) right through to the Turkish-Georgian border. It passes through a series of interesting towns including Samsun, the most important port and commercial center on the north coast of Turkey, Trabzon (ancient Trabezous and later Trebizond), the tea-producing town of Rize and administrative center of the mountainous region of Lazistan and the little Turkish port of Hopa just a few miles from the Georgian frontier.
A boat service runs from Istanbul to Zonguldak, Sinop, Samsun, Giresun and Trabzon. In addition, air services connect Istanbul and Ankara with Samsun and Trabzon.
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Eregli, Turkey
(Near Western Black Sea Coast)
This small port with a steelworks lies in a bay to the south of Cape Baba (the ancient Acherusia Promontorium) on the site of ancient Herakleia Pontike (Heraclea ad Pontum). According to tradition, the town was founded by Megara in 560 B.C. There are some fine sandy beaches nearby (Karadeniz Ereglisi).
Igneada, Turkey
(Near Western Black Sea Coast)
A typical fishing village in a bay sheltered to the north by Cape Igneada (lighthouse) lies 15km/9mi south of the Bulgarian frontier. To the west are the wooded Istranca Hills. Kilyos, a popular seaside resort with a beautiful sandy beach, is 40km/25mi north of Istanbul.
Ince Burun
This cape with a lighthouse, the ancient Syrias Promontorium of Ince Burun, is the most northerly point in Turkey.
Karasu, Turkey
(Near Western Black Sea Coast)
This small town lies 2km/1.25mi inland near the mouth of the River Sakarya. Homer and Hesiod called the river Sangarios, after a Phrygian river god, son of Okeanos and Tethys. Long beaches of fine sand line the coast which is attracting more and more tourist development.
Western Black Sea Coast, Turkey
The Western Black Sea Coast has a number of significant attractions.
Akcakoca
In the 13th century Italian merchants from Genoa purchased special Black Sea trading rights from the Byzantines and a Genoese fort in the town dates back to this time. In the 19th century the town was the seat of a derebey (autonomous local prince). The surrounding countryside is a mass of hazelnut trees yielding up to 10,000 tones of nuts a year, the bulk of which find their way to German chocolate factories.
(Near Western Black Sea Coast)
This Black Sea coastal resort lies 45km/28mi north of the town of Düzce. Very popular with the Turks, especially those from Istanbul, it is a small modern place without any particular charm. It does however have lovely sandy beaches. About 8km/5mi further west, in the direction of Karasu, a beach with fine sand, said to be one of best in Turkey, extends between Cape Karaburun and the Melen Çayi.In the 13th century Italian merchants from Genoa purchased special Black Sea trading rights from the Byzantines and a Genoese fort in the town dates back to this time. In the 19th century the town was the seat of a derebey (autonomous local prince). The surrounding countryside is a mass of hazelnut trees yielding up to 10,000 tones of nuts a year, the bulk of which find their way to German chocolate factories.
Inebolu
(Near Western Black Sea Coast)
The principal port on this stretch of slate-covered coast is situated at the mouth of a little river with the same name in a lush garden-like landscape. As well as a ruined castle, the traditional wooden houses are particularly interesting. Inebolu boasts several handsome Pontic-style town houses, some with slate-covered roofs in the traditional style. In antiquity the town was known as Abonouteichos, but was renamed Ionopolis (hence Inebolu) during the period of Roman Imperial rule. Some of the historically important buildings in the old town include Eski Cami, Yen Cami, Küçük Cami and the ruins of a church in the Christian quarter of Erkistos Mahalles. More fine beaches are to be found in the vicinity. Other excellent beaches enhance the neighboring towns of Gemiciler (10km/6mi to the east), Ozlüce (14km/9mi to the west), Kayran (24km/15mi to the west) and Dognyurt (32km/20mi to the west) from where boat trips to the Fokkayazi caves leave.
