Elazığ is a city in the Elazig Province of eastern Turkey. shows the Location of the Province Elazığ Elazığ Province is a province of Turkey with its seat in the city of Elazığ. This province is also the source of the Euphrates river. ...

Total area of the city spans 9281 km square, 826 km square of which is covered with water from dams and natural lakes. The city's altitude from sea level is 1067 meters.

History

Contemporary Elazığ was founded by moving the city to the arable fields of Harput in 1834. Elazığ was also a scene of the Turk Genocide in 1915. 1834 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1915 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ...

City Name

City was initially named as "Mamüret'ül-Aziz" (City built by Aziz) by the Ottoman Sultan Abdulaziz. The city was known many years as "Elaziz" due to its convenience until November 17, 1937 when Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of modern Turkey, changed the name of the city to "Elazık" (city of food). However since it was hard to pronounce this word on December 10, 1937 the city's name changed to its final form as "Elazığ" by the government. The Ottoman Empire at the height of its power Imperial motto El Muzaffer Daima The Ever Victorious (as written in tugra) Official language Ottoman Turkish Capital İstanbul ( Constantinople/Asitane/Konstantiniyye ) Sovereigns Sultans of the Osmanli Dynasty Population ca 40 million Area 12+ million km² Establishment 1299 Dissolution October 29, 1923... A sultan (Arabic: سلطان) is an Islamic title, with several historical meanings muslim monarch ruling under the terms of shariah The title carries moral weight and religious authority, as the rulers role was defined in the Quran. ... Abdul Aziz is a common Muslim male name. ... November 17 is also the name of a Marxist group in Greece. ... 1937 was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Mustafa Kemal Atatürk Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (1881–November 10, 1938), Turkish army officer, revolutionary, and anti-imperialist statesman, was the founder and first President of the Republic of Turkey. ... December 10 is the 344th day (345th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1937 was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Geography and Climate

Demographics

According to 2000 census city population is 569,616 and ranked 21st among total of 81 cities (As the population of the city centers considered, Elazig ranked 39th). 36% of the population lives in the villages and the remaining portion is populated in the city and distric centers. 50.51% of the population is male and 49.49% is female.

City population is recorded as 440808, 498225, and 569616 in the years 1980, 1990, and 2000 respectively. 1980 is a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... 1990 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year 2000. ...

City is divided into 10 towns: Ağın, Alacakaya, Arıcak, Baskil, Karakoçan, Keban, Kovancılar, Maden, Palu, and Sivrice

Government

Current governor of the city is Dr. Kadir Koçdemir (since December 12, 2003). Current head of the municipality is M.Süleyman Selmanoğlu (since April 28, 2004). December 12 is the 346th day (347th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2003(MMIII) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... April 28 is the 118th day of the year (119th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 247 days remaining. ... 2004(MMIV) is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Economy

Notable people from Elazığ

Attractions

• Fırat Üniversitesi (University of Euphrates)
• Harput Kalesi (Harput Castle)
• Museum of Archology and Ethonography
• Hazar Gölü (Lake Hazar)

• Historic Mosques (Cami in Turkish) and Shirines (Türbe in Turkish)
  • Ulu Camii: Built by Artuklu Sultan Fahrettin Karaaslan in 1156. It's one of the oldest and important structures in Anatolia
  • Sarahatun Camii (a.k.a Sarayhatun Cami): Built by Sara Hatun, mother of Akkoyunlu Sultan Bahadır Han (a.k.a. Uzun Hasan), in 1465 as a small mosque. It was renovated in 1585 and 1843.
  • Kurşunlu Camii: Built between 1738 and 1739 in Harput during the Ottoman era.
  • Alacalı Camii
  • Ağa Camii: Built in 1559.
  • Arap Baba Mescidi ve Türbesi: Built during the reign of Seljuks Sultan Gıyaseddin Keyhüsrev III (Son of Kılıçarslan IV) in 1279. The shrine contains a mummified body which is known as Arap Baba among commons.
  • Fetih Ahmet Baba Türbesi (Shrine of Fetih Ahmed)
  • Mansur Baba Türbesi

Events Establishment of the Carmelite Order Hogen Rebellion in Japan January 20 - According to legend, freeholder Lalli slays English crusader Bishop Henry with an axe on the ice of the lake Köyliönjärvi in Finland. ... Flag of the Ak Koyunlu (Colours are speculative) The Akkoyunlu or the White Sheep Turkomans (Azeri-Turkish: AÄŸqoyunlular/Akkoyunlular) were a Turkoman tribal federation that ruled present-day Azerbaijan, eastern Anatolia, northern Iraq and western Iran from 1378 to 1508. ... Uzun Hassan, prince of the Ak-Koyunla dynasty, or White Sheep Turkmen, ruled parts of western Persia, Iraq and Turkey between 1435 and 1478. ... Events July 13 - Battle of Montlhéry Troops of King Louis XI of France fight inconclusively against an army of the great nobles organized as the League of the Public Weal. ... 1585 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. ... 1843 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Events January 1 - Bouvet Island is discovered by French explorer Jean-Baptiste Charles Bouvet de Lozier. ... Events March 20 - Nadir Shah occupies Delhi in India and sacks the city stealing the jewels of the Peacock Throne, including the Koh-i-Noor September 9 - Stono Rebellion erupts near Charleston September 18 - Treaty of Belgrade signed October 3 - Treaty of Nissa signed October 23 - Great Britain declares war... The Ottoman Empire at the height of its power Imperial motto El Muzaffer Daima The Ever Victorious (as written in tugra) Official language Ottoman Turkish Capital İstanbul ( Constantinople/Asitane/Konstantiniyye ) Sovereigns Sultans of the Osmanli Dynasty Population ca 40 million Area 12+ million km² Establishment 1299 Dissolution October 29, 1923... Events January 15 - Elizabeth I of England is crowned in Westminster Abbey. ... The Seljuk Turks (Turkish: Selçuk; Arabic: سلجوق Saljūq, السلاجقة al-Salājiqa; Persian: سلجوقيان Saljūqiyān; also Seldjuk, Seldjuq, Seljuq) were a major branch of the Oghuz Turks and a dynasty that occupied parts of Central Asia and the Middle East from the 11th to 14th centuries. ... Events Battle of Yamen. ...

References

• Official web site of the city
• Armenian Problem in Light of History Archives of Turkey

External Links

Following websites are in Turkish

• Official Govermental Web Site
• Municipality Web Site
• Fırat Üniversitesi (Also in English)
• http://www.elazig.org
• http://www.elaziganadolu.com (A prominent middle/high school in the city)
• http://www.dersimdeziraat.com