Eleşkirt

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Eleşkirt
General view of Eleşkirt
Eleşkirt
Coordinates: 39°47′53″N 42°40′28″E / 39.79806°N 42.67444°E / 39.79806; 42.67444Coordinates: 39°47′53″N 42°40′28″E / 39.79806°N 42.67444°E / 39.79806; 42.67444
Country Turkey
Province Ağrı
Government
 • Mayor Mehmet Nuri Çelik (AKP)
 • Kaymakam Mustafa Koç
Area[1]
 • District 1,545.18 km2 (596.60 sq mi)
Population (2012)[2]
 • Urban 11,247
 • District 39,040
 • District Density 25/km2 (65/sq mi)
Website www.eleskirt.bel.tr

Eleşkirt or Kurdish Zêdikan, is a town and district of Ağrı Province in Turkey. Its name was transferred from Alashkert (Armenian: Ալաշկերտ Alaškert), the valley's former administrative centre, now the village of Toprakale.

The mayor is Mehmet Nuri Çelik (AKP).

Places to see

Eleşkirt is a small town on a plain surrounded by high mountains, that has been occupied since the kingdom of the Urartu, as can be seen from:

  • A burial mound (höyük) in the village of Pirabat
  • The castle in the village of Toprakkale (ku:Kelê). In antiquity the district was ruled from the castle which was successively occupied by Romans, Persians, Armenians, Arabs, Greek Byzantines, Seljuk Turks, Mongols and then further waves of Turks. There is a mosque which was built in 1687 in this village.
  • There is a mountain named Kösedağ near the town. It is popular for climbing and, in winter, skiing. Actually a lot of tourists come to see and climb this mountain from different countries every year.

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. 
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