Menderes Valley

The Menderes Valley, formed by the Menderes (Meander) river has been the cradle of many civilizations. This region offers a variety of beauties all at once. Lake Camici (Bafa), on the way to Bodrum, is a secret camping spot, hidden amidst the pines, olives and oleanders facing the five peaks of the Besparmak Mountains on the eastern slopes on which are the ruins of Alinda. The ruins of the ancient city of Heraklia are closer to the lake giving campers by the lake the chance to the sightseeing.

This fertile valley has sheltered many important cities of past civilizations, the remains of which still preserve their grandeur and dignity.

Aydin

Aydin is one of the major cities in the Aegean region of Turkey and is growing very fast. Apart from the industry, the main agricultural products of the province are; figs, olives, strawberries and cotton.

The ancient name of the province of Aydin was Tralleis. It was celebrated as the center of sculpture, with a well known sculpture school. The museum in Aydin exhibits the relics of many civilizations which have passed through this important center in Anatolia. The remains in the city date back to the 2nd-century A.D. while you may see many examples of other periods in the environs of the province.

After 1186, Aydin was ruled by Seljuks who affected architectural style of the city during that time. The local museum of Aydin displays artifacts from that time and the different periods of history.

A variety of fruits & vegetables is grown on the fertile lands of Aydin province, especially figs are world known. The city is also rich in folklore and legends. “Zeybek” is the traditional play of Aydin and around, played with the groups of two, four, six or nine. “Zeybek” can be played with music or not, alternatively in slow and faster version. The man player of “Zeybek” is called “Efe”, a special name given to the courageous men in the area. The traditional cloth of “Zeybek” consist of a tasseled fez ornamented by flowers, striped wadded jacket. Knitted belt on the waist and gaiter on the calf are the accessories of the traditional clothes of Efe.

Aydin enjoys a reputation for its mineral springs and spas that are serving with their varied curing and healing properties. Aydin spa is the most famous one, having two close and one open pools. The temperature is about 31C. There are also different spas in Imamkoy, Germencik and Alangullu, around the province of Aydin.

Aydin includes important historical sites within its borders. Nyssa, Priene, Miletos, Didyma, Aphrodisias and Heraklia are the principles attracted by throngs of visitors every year.

Afyon

The province, known also as Afyonkarahisar, is located as a gateway between the Aegean sea and inner regions of Anatolia, locating at the crossroads of 3 different regions of Turkey. Afyon is bordered with Konya to the east, Usak to the west, Kutahya to the northwest, Denizli to the southwest, Burdur to the south, Isparta to the southeast, and Eskisehir to the north. Total area of Afyon is 14.570 square km and its elevation is 1.034 meters. The city has a continental climate; hot and dry summers, mild and rainy springs, cold and snowy winters.

The history of Afyon dates back to 3000 BC. It was home to Hittites, Phrygians, Lydians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Seljuks and Ottomans. The city is famous for its specific “Turkish Delight” and “Kaymak” (a kind of hard cream put on desserts), its “Sucuk” (special spicy sausages), its Opium fields (under strict supervision by the Government), its marble quarries, and for its various thermal baths.

Afyon is a spa-center with thermal baths in Gazligol Kaplicasi (25 km northwest), Gecek and Omerli Kaplicalari (15 km and 14 km northwest respectively), Hudai Kaplicasi 68 km southwest of the town, and Heybeli Kaplicasi at 30 km from city center. Sandikli is also famous for its mud baths, too. All these resorts have board and lodging facilities.

The Archaeological Museum and the War of Independence Memorial are places to visit in the city and to the north of Afyon there are Phrygian remains in the form of monumental cult rocks. Aslantas and Aslankaya are the largest of these. The lion relieves, which gave the name to these rocks are seen on sides of the rock and cult temples. This area is known as Phrygian Valley. Afyon Citadel which was built during the Byzantine period previously was used as a fortress by the Hittite King Mursil II, is another monument to see in the city. The citadel was called as Karahisar by the Seljuks, meaning Black Castle in Turkish. Ulu (Grand) Mosque and Altigoz bridge are other sites of interest. The town of Dazkiri on the Denizli highway is famous for its carpets and kilims.

Yozgat

217 km from Ankara, is Yozgat, the history of which extends as far back as the Hittite period. It was an important residential area in Anatolia in those times, and Alisar, one of the main Hittite cities, lies inside the borders of this province. Bogazkoy and Alacahoyuk, though not being part of Yozgat, are near enough to reflect the central position of the site then, with notable ruins found in the district.

Today’s city of Yozgat, on the other hand, is rather new, founded in the 18th century by the Ottomans. Capanoglu Ahmet Pasha, who was the “Bey” of the Turkmens at that time, was the founder; and the Capanoglu Mosque which carries his name, stands as a remain of this period together with the Suleyman Bey Mosque.

Constructed in the 19th century, the Nizamoglu Mansion is a prominent building, presenting fine Turkish architectural style. It is an important house of the Ottoman period and is now used to exhibit ethnographical finds.

Near Yozgat, “Camlik” is an islet of forests. This site is a national park, 5 kilometers south of the city, and it adorns the land with its beautiful scenery.

Sivas

Situated at an altitude of 1275 m, Sivas is the highest city of the Central Anatolian Region, and the most mountainous one with the numerous peaks. This uneven land has been the shelter of many tribes, from the earliest ages to more recent periods from which remain many notable monuments.

Sivas being at the junction point of the Persia and Baghdad caravan routes, was once a busy commercial center. During the interval between 1142 and 1171, it was the capital of the Turkish Danismend Emirs. Later, under the rule of the Seljuks, it became a cultural center, with importance given to learning and scholarship; and many related buildings were constructed by the remains of some, can still be seen today.

One of the outstanding numerous Seljuk works of art and architecture is Izzeddin Keykavus Sifahanesi, which was “a house of recovery” in those times; in other words “a hospital”. It was built in 1217 by the order of the Seljuk Sultan, and its decoration with painted tiles is beautiful.

Gok Medrese (theological school) and Buruciye Medrese, both built in 1271, constitute the best examples of wonderful Seljuk artistic works, while the Ulu Mosque of the Danismend Emirate is another fine historical monument, reflecting a different style. The Cifte Minareli Medrese of the same year, is also noteworthy with its twin minarets rising elegantly on both sides of its ornate portal.

Throughout the long history of the city, the role played by Sivas, during the War of Independence is important in that the National Congress took the decision to fight for the liberalization of Turkey, here, in 1919. The school building used then; is now the Ataturk and Congress Museum; and here, the relevant documents of the congress and war, are on display, together with ethnographical finds and local handicrafts.

165 km southeast of Sivas, is Divrigi, an ancient town, which was once a Byzantine site. By the 12th and 13th centuries, it was the capital of Turkish Mengucek Emirs, and the remains of Ulu Mosque of 1229 and a citadel remain from the period. The Baroque style portal of this magnificent mosque is a real masterpiece of stonework, and this monumental building has been declared by UNESCO to be one of the eminent cultural heritages of the world.

Besides its historical treasures, the city possesses several other specialties, one of which is Balikli Kaplica, an interesting spa of the town Kangal. It is a thermal spring, filled with tiny fish living in the hot waters, which provides a different type of cure for skin complaints. It is the only cure center in the world for “Sedef Hastaligi” (psoriasis). Soguk Cermik is another spa center. Hafik, Todurge (Zara), and Gokpinar (Gurun) Lakes are some of the interesting places for picnicking, boating and fishing.

Another special characteristic of this town, 68 km south of Sivas, are the world famous Kangal dogs. These sheep dogs have proven their loyalty and success even in the harshest climates such as in this city, and are confidently used in the area of police and military work.

Sivas is also known for its fine carpets of numerous designs and colors. These locally produced weavings offer a wide variety of choice, and the inherent high quality is not subject to variation.

Nigde

Lying on a plateau embellished by volcanic peaks is this city of Central Anatolian Region, which was called “Nahita” in the Hittite period. Since its foundation, it has been a commercial center, standing on the ancient trade route between Anatolia and the Mediterranean.

Much later, the land was taken over by the Seljuks, who filled the city with many works, presenting the exquisite Seljuk artistic and architectural styles. One of the important remains from those years is the Alaeddin Mosque, which is really the most beautiful monument in Nigde, with its wonderful stonework over the ornate portal. From an inscription found here, this elegant building is understood to have been constructed in 1203, and was later restored during the reign of Alaeddin Keykubat. The citadel in the area is the same, owing its current condition to the Seljuks, and constitutes another interesting sight, with a clock tower inside.

Other historical remains in this district are the Sungur Bey Mosque and his tomb, which belong to the 14th century with Mongol rule prevailing; and the Hudavend Hatun Mausoleum built in 1312. The 15th century Ak Medresse constructed by the Karamanli Turks is still another, and is now converted to an archaeological museum displaying the finds from the area.

Besides the city, the towns of the province of Nigde, also hold many remarkable ruins from these early periods.

Aladaglar, 70 kms north, and Bolkarlar, 75 kms south, are mountaineering, trekking and winter sports centers. “Kardelen Flower” is the unique flower which survives and comes out, penetrating the snow in the winter.

Bor, 14 kms south of Nigde, was a residential center of the Hittites, and possesses signs from those ancient times, along with monuments from the more recent ages, like the old Ottoman “bedesten”. It has also a huge reserve of borate mines.

5 kms south of Bor, is Kemerhisar, which was an early site of the Roman city of Tyana. Together with the aqueducts used by Romans, some Hittite ruins are to be found in the environs of this town.

Gumusler, is another place of historical importance, 9 km along the Nigde - Kayseri road. A Byzantine monastery and church are still standing, dating back to the 10th and 11th centuries. High columns and walls covered with frescoes feature the rock monastery and these well-preserved buildings are appropriate sites for sightseers.

Göreme

Göreme has, to some extent, become the focus of the Cappadocian tourist industry. It’s proximity to the Open Air Museum, Zelve and other bits and pieces of fairy chimney charm, coupled with it’s downright cheapness has been drawing people from all over the world for the last 20 years or so.

Basic accommodation and supplies are here in volume as a result of the rapid response to the areas tourist potential and Göreme is a favorite amongst budget travelers, many of whom stay a while, sometimes finding work in the tourist industry themselves.

Central location and cheapness apart you may not feel there’s much to distinguish Göreme from it’s neighbors. It is, perhaps, less organized and a little bit more laid back than Ãœrgüp or Avanos and it’s probably livelier than either in the season. If you’re looking for somewhere to hang out for a while, meet people and maybe blend in a little then Göreme is probably the place for you.

Göreme Open Air Museum

This is the one place that everybody who comes through Cappadocia goes. It’s a nicely packaged instant version of what the whole area has to offer and it’s a good place to start.

The open air museum is about 2 km from the town of Göreme itself and you can comfortably walk it. Walking in Cappadocia is usually fun anyway. As you approach you’ll pass the bus park on your right, complete with its row of souvenir shops, and on your left the buckle church (Tokali kilise), one of the finest examples of frescoes in the area. Entrance is included when you buy your ticket at the main gate so you’ll probably end up visiting it on the way out of the museum. Try not to forget it.

It is impossible to give details of all the churches and rooms in the valley here as you could easily spend half a day wondering about and looking at them all. Basically what you’ll find is the remains of a monastic community who made their home in this valley. Most people are struck by the frescoes and the quality of these varies from excellent to very tatty. Keep an eye open for the strange symbolic decorations in some of the smaller churches and chapels. Bear in mind when buying your ticket that the Karanlik church (recently restored and with the freshest frescoes) is not included in the price and will cost you extra.

Over the last 2 years or so an extensive protection program has been put into place. The churches are very prone to erosion and to prevent this they are slowly being covered with a resilient artificial surface designed to halt their gradual destruction by nature. This looks kind of weird at first glance but it makes sense.

The frescoes that many tourists come to see can be divided up into Pre and Post-Iconoclastic. The earlier works rely entirely on symbolism to communicate their messages and may look childish and simple in comparison to later works. Their form is a result of the early church’s disapproval of the portrayal of the human form in religious art. The works which postdate the resolution of the Iconoclastic controversy (mid 9th Century - see Ecumenical Councils) are much more figurative. It is interesting to compare them and realize that both styles are telling the same stories of Christ and the Saints.

Avanos

Avanos is set on the banks of the Kizilirmak, the Red River, which gets its name from the clay that it deposits. This clay has provided Avanos with pottery for centuries and the town is still dominated by this industry despite the inroads that tourism has made in the area. The main street has numerous shops and workshops selling plain and decorated pots and plates and you can watch the potters at work using kick wheels, the design of which has remained unchanged for generations. Many of the workshops will encourage you to have a go yourself. It’s harder than it looks.

Avanos is a possible base for exploring Cappadocia with accommodation and services available at reasonable rates. The town has retained some of its charm and is a pleasant place to spend half a day or to stop for lunch. The town has a tourist targeted Hammam (Turkish bath) which is popular with tour groups and is also close to the Selcuk built Yellow Caravanserai, a restored Han (travelers ’service station’), and the Özkonak Underground city, a smaller version of those at Derinkuyu and Kaymakli.

Today Avanos is also famous for its carpets and textile.

Uçhisar

If you’re not looking for a party Uçhisar makes an excellent base from which to explore the unique Cappadocian landscape. It’s a sleepy little town, less dominated by the tourist trade than Göreme or Avanos and with an atmosphere that can fool you into thinking you’re in Turkey in the late 70’s rather than the late 90’s.

There are some pleasant mid-range and cheap hotels and pensions here and food is acceptable at several establishments. Uçhisar’s Kale or fortress is visible for miles around and has become the town’s major tourist attraction, offering, as it does, fine views over the surrounding countryside.

Uçhisar is also a good place to begin a walking tour from because it’s down hill in every direction and because you can take in Pigeon Valley, named for it’s myriad nesting holes carved to encourage said birds.

Ortahisar

Ortahisar, meaning middle fortress in Turkish, is 6 km from Ürgüp and about 10 km from Nevsehir city center. The village is at 1200 meters above sea level with about 4,000 inhabitants, and its name is coming from a massive 90 meter high rock, similar to Uçhisar. This rock was used for many centuries since the Hittite period as a castle to protect local inhabitants from invaders and to scout the region. There are many rooms and tunnels inside, and the top is accessible by a staircase. Once you get on top, there is a breathtaking view of Cappadocia and the Erciyes mountain at the background. Carved tuff rooms around the village are used as a natural cool depot to store citrus, apple, potatoes etc. The village is surrounded by vineyards as well.

Besides this castle-rock, there are several churches in and around Ortahisar from early Christians; Sarica church, Kepez church, Pancarlik church, Tavsanli church, Cambazli church, Balkan stream church, Hallac dere hospital and monastic complex, and Uzumlu church in Kuzulcukur area. These are all Turkish names given by the local people, not their original names.

There is a private Ethnography museum in Ortahisar, recently opened in 2004 and showing examples from the daily village life, agriculture, kitchen, carpet weaving, Hammam, Henna night and marriage. It also has a cafeteria and a restaurant to relax and enjoy the local food.

Ürgüp

The unfortunately named Ãœrgüp is probably the busiest of the small towns in the vicinity of the Cappadocian sites. It’s possibly the tastiest as well, recent development has mushroomed leaving a grim legacy of poorly designed and serviced buildings. The road down into the town however does take you past some pleasant rock carved dwellings, accommodation and restaurants. It’s worth wondering around the old town for a taste of what the place must have been like before we all arrived.

This said it does offer services, such as banking, which are a little scarce elsewhere. It has a scattering of hotels and pensions of varying degrees of sophistication and a couple of good places to eat. The town has also a certain night life with small bars and discos.

Zelve

A strong contender for favorite place status, the Zelve monastery complex is situated about 10 km out from Göreme on the Avanos road. Lacking the elaborate frescoes of Göreme and other sites there’s still plenty here to see. The series of valleys can provide you with a couple of hours walking, climbing and crawling about and in addition to the marked highlights (the Fish and Grape churches) there are innumerable rooms and passages to look at.

Zelve was inhabited until quite recently but you can almost see the place crumbling before your very eyes. There’s probably an element of risk involved in exploring too enthusiastically but a guide should be able to balance the thrill of stumbling through pitch black tunnels by torchlight with an element of safety.

It’s probably a good idea to make the most of the place while there’s still something to see. There seems little chance of a restoration scheme along the lines of that in place at Göreme and even if tourists were to stop visiting today natural erosion processes do their damage every winter.

Ihlara Valley

The Ihlara valley is very nice. Removed a little from the rest of the Cappadocian sites it can be a little tricky to get to but it’s worth a full day if you can spare one. The gorge is 16 km long and both sides are lined with rock carved churches, about 100 in all. You can look at the more important of these in a couple of hours but it’s very pleasant to spend an afternoon following the river down the valley and exploring on your own.

The climb down to and especially up from the gorge can be demanding and probably shouldn’t be attempted if you’re feeling frail. To make the most of your time here a full day and a picnic is a good idea and will repay the effort in terms of a relaxed days pottering about admiring the churches and the valley’s beautiful scenery.

Underground cities

The underground cities of Cappadocia are worthy of a visit. Let’s take Derinkuyu for example. The one time home of up to 20,000 people, it’s 8 levels descend into the Anatolian plateau 50 km south of Göreme. Stop and think about that for a while. A large, market town sized community digging a settlement out to guarantee themselves a degree of protection.

There are 8 floors of tunnels but 4 of them are open to the visitors and this is enough to give you an idea of the sensation of living in a labyrinth like this. The ventilation shafts, circular and descending from the surface to the lower levels, bring home the scale of the enterprise while the massive circular doors - which were rolled across the passages and sealed from the inside - remind you of the motivation for moving underground in the first place.

Derinkuyu is by no means the only such city you can visit here. There are actually 40 or so subterranean settlements in the area although only a few are open to the public. Kaymakli, 10 kilometers to the north of Derinkuyu, is smaller and less excavated but 4 levels are accessible and the experience is pretty much the same. Not For The Claustrophobic.

Nevsehir is a regional transport hub and provincial town for the surrounding area. It’s close enough to the sites of Cappadocia to make it practical as a base from which to tour, but it doesn’t have the same ‘charm’ as the smaller Cappadocian towns and villages. Useful place to find buses and any bus coming from the west will stop here on the way through. The city is about 30 km to Tuzkoy airport and 100 km to Kayseri airport. It’s 1150 meters above sea level, experience a Continental climate, has a population of 310.000, and an area of 5.467 square km.

Hotels and Pansiyons are plentiful here but the size of the place makes it a little tricky to get around without your own transport. It’s useful to know that you can find services here that aren’t available in the wilds of the interior but with any luck you won’t need them.

It does have a decent archaeological and ethnographical museum with Byzantine, Hittite, Roman and Ottoman artifacts and a couple of interesting mosques that are worth a visit if you are here for the day.

Kirsehir

Kirsehir is a small province (6.665 km2) in Central Anatolian region with approximately 300.000 inhabitants and at 985 meters above sea level. Its districts are Akcakent, Akpinar, Boztepe, Cicekdagi, Kaman, and Mucur. It stands on the Anatolian tectonic fault as most of Anatolia does. It has a typical Central Anatolian climate; cold and snowy winters and hot and dry summers.

Some of the sites of interest are Cicekdagi forest recreation area, Terme hot springs, Keci and Ömerhacili castle ruins, Caca Bey old theological school (medrese), Kale and Alaeddin mosques, Ahi Evran mosque and mausoleum, Karakurt Baba, Melik Gazi and Asik Pasha mausoleums, Kesikköprü Inn (Caravanserai), and Kirsehir Museum which has more than 3300 items consisting of coins and ethnographic and archaeological materials. Also Mucur Underground City and Inlimurat Underground City are considered as historical sites.

The research and excavations of the recent years have shown that human settlements in Kirsehir started in 3000 B.C. Ceramic pieces from that period are found in the tumulus’s of the city. The archaeological excavations undertaken at Hashöyük, a village of the central district of Kirsehir, in 1930 by Turkish and Italian archaeologists has revealed pieces of pottery from 3000 B.C.

2000 BC was the start of Assyrian Trade Colonies period and the Hittite period. Two altars with cow heads from Old Hittite Period brought to the Hirfanli Dam operations from the shores of the Kizilirmak River (Red river), Malkayasi with hieroglyph inscriptions and known as Hittite road inscription located between the villages of Sevdigin and Kale, also the seals, ceramic kitchen utensils, public buildings with walls etc found at Kaman Kale Tumulus are important traces of the Hittite period.

Current archaeological excavations and surface investigations also reveal that, after the Old and Late Hittite Periods, the Old and Late Phrygian Periods were also lived in a most dense fashion. In 550 BC, Anatolia was completely under Persian dominance. Within this period, Kirsehir was part of the Central Anatolia history, a region which became well known as Cappadocia. As Persians sufficed with only military invasion of Anatolia, significant ruins or remains cannot be found in Kirsehir, but Persian seals were found at excavations of the Kaman Kale tumulus. Persian dominance came to end in 334 BC when the armies of Alexander the Great came to Anatolia and defeated the Persians. Kirsehir and environs experienced severe pressures due to lack of authority during the period of the Cappadocia Kingdom which was established in 333 BC. In the year 18, Roman Emperor Tiberius officially annexed Cappadocia to the Roman Empire and converted it into a provincial status.

Roman period was a period of strong paganism as well as a period where Christianity was fast expanding. About 15 underground cities of varying size are known to exist from that period in Kirsehir, which were built as places of worship and sanctuary for the Christians. Historical research shows that Kirsehir was for a while an important political center during the Roman period and even functioned as the provincial capital.

There isn’t much information about the Byzantine period of this area, but ruins and remains indicate that a Byzantine period did exist. Uc Ayak church from the 10th century at Taburoglu village of the provincial center, which is one of the first big village churches in Anatolia, was a church where Protestants and Catholics worshipped together, and the church ruins at Fakil village and Temirli are interesting.

Seljuk period is significant for Kirsehir as it is for Anatolian Turkish history as a whole, and worth investigating.

Urbanization of Kirsehir during the Seljuk period started in the early years of 13th century. Kirsehir was given to one of the Emirs of the Mengücük dynasty, Melik Muzaffererüddin Muhammed as a fief, who was defeated in battle by Seljuks at Erzincan, for his outstanding performance. During his stay in Kirsehir, Melik Muzaffererüddin Muhammed built the Melik Gazi Medrese in 1230.

Mongolians which invaded whole of Anatolia in 1240 after the Kösedag defeat converted Kirsehir into a rest stop for winter and a summer place in the plateau. The long lasting military presence of Mongolians in Kirsehir turned it into an important political and military center.

Nureddin Cibril Bin Cacabey, who was appointed as Emir to Kirsehir in 1260’s, started the first significant construction activities of the Turkish period, thanks to the good relations he established with the Mongolians. Cacabey Medrese which was one of the first schools of astronomy and Cacabey Inn near Kizilirmak as well as numerous big and small buildings were all realized during his times.

In the 13th century, Ahi Evran which organized the Anatolian Turkish union in general and the organization and unification of the trade and craftsmen in particular, came to Kirsehir after Denizli, Konya and Kayseri and carried out his mission there, turning Kirsehir into the center of the Ahi movement. After the leader Ahi Evran, Kirsehir sustained its position as the center of the Ahi. The decisions taken at the lodge in Kirsehir were influential from Azerbaijan to Bosnia-Herzegovina.

In 1293, Mevlana’s son Sultan Veled sent ambassadors to certain centers in Anatolia, with the aim of spreading the Mevlevi belief of Sufism. The person assigned to Kirsehir was Seyh Süleyman Türkmani who established a lodge in Kirsehir and spread Mevlevi belief from this base. His close relationship to Mevlana and Mevlana’s appreciation of him are apparent from his letters.

It is also known that Mevlana’s son Alaaddin fled to Kirsehir after his name got involved in the case of Semsi Tebrizi murder in Konya. All this show that Kirsehir was one of the important centers of the Mevlevis in Anatolia.

Haci Bektas-i Veli, who came to Suluca Karahöyük, received a great number of people there, who had a leaning towards his ideas.

Kirikkale

It is said that the name of the city is a united name which comes from the name of ”Kirik” village where is settled to the 3 km north of city from center of city and the name of ”Kale” (hill) which is present in the center today. It is known that between 16th and 17th centuries, Turkish tribes and communities who were coming from East of Turkey are settled in Anatolia, especially in Central Anatolia. One of these tribes which is named as ”Oguz-Oguzhan” clan is settled in ”Kirikkal’a” (oldest name of the city) which is near to Ankara mentioned in the history archives of Turkey.

Kirikkale is a recent province of Turkey in Central Anatolian region nearby Red River (Kizilirmak), about 80 kilometers east of Ankara. It became a city in 1989 under the presidency of Turgut Ozal. The population today is approximately 380,000, but it’s hard to imagine that in 1925 Kirikkale was a small village consisting of 12 houses only. It is expanding rapidly to become an industrial center. Main industries in Kirikkale include state-owned military arms and ammunition factories (MKE) and chemical plants. The economy is almost exclusively based on its steel mills producing high quality alloy steel and machinery.

There is also a significant timber industry thanks to the forests with oak trees surrounding the city but most of the land is covered with ‘’steppe”. There are several vineyards as well. Sesame, clove, daisy, mint mustard and thyme can be told for the samples of some plants which grows spontaneously in the region. Kirikkale serves also as a local market for cereals and livestock in Anatolia.

Kirikkale city takes its part in a mild-climate zone. However climate changes to terrestrial-climate zone because of the daily temperature changes which is a result of far distance from seas. Summer is usually hot and arid while winter is cold. There is no natural lakes in Kirikkale.

The average altitude of the city is 700 meters. Different plateaus can be found in Kirikkale and their heights can change between 1200-1600 meters. Its location is on a crossroads on a major highway running to the east and to the Black Sea region. Also a railway station on a major rail route to eastern Turkey makes this city important.

Kirikkale University was founded in 1992 as the highest educational institution in the province.

The province stands on the earthquake zone where seismic activities can be seen sometimes and once volcanic actions were seen. Although Kirikkale is rich in respect of different types of ores, unfortunately is quite poor in respect of of its reserves.