Karşıyaka

Karşıyaka
District
Karşıyaka Bazaar Street (Çarşı), seen from the top of the pier
Location of Karşıyaka within metropolitan Izmir.
Karşıyaka Location of Karşıyaka within metropolitan Izmir.
Coordinates: 38°27′34.46″N 27°6′54.73″E / 38.4595722°N 27.1152028°E / 38.4595722; 27.1152028Coordinates: 38°27′34.46″N 27°6′54.73″E / 38.4595722°N 27.1152028°E / 38.4595722; 27.1152028
Country	Turkey
Region	Aegean
Province	İzmir
Government
• Mayor	Cevat Durak Republican People's Party
Area[1]
• District	65.70 km2 (25.37 sq mi)
Elevation	0-700 m (−2,300 ft)
Population (2012)[2]
• Urban	315,008
• District	315,294
• District Density	4,800/km2 (12,000/sq mi)
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
• Summer (DST)	EEST (UTC+3)
Postal code	35x xx
Area code(s)	0232
Licence plate	35
Website	http://www.karsiyaka.bel.tr

Karşıyaka (pronounced [kaɾʃɯˈjaka]) is a district of İzmir Province in Turkey. It is part of the Greater Metropolitan Area of İzmir, in other words a metropolitan district, the second largest after Konak in terms of population, and it is almost entirely urbanised at the rate of 99.9 percent,^{[citation needed]} with corresponding high levels of development in terms of lifestyle and services. Karşıyaka extends for twelve kilometres along the northern and eastern coastline of the tip of the Gulf of İzmir. Its centre is at a distance of 6 km (4 mi) to the north from the traditional centre of entire İzmir, which is Konak Square in Konak at the opposite coast, and İzmir's central areas are of quicker and easier access from Karşıyaka by ferry, in fifteen minutes to half an hour to various quays located along the Gulf's eastern and southern coastline, rather than by land by going round the gulf's outlying coastline. Karşıyaka's district area neighbours the district areas of Menemen to the north, Bornova to the east and Çiğli to the west, the last two also being among İzmir's metropolitan districts. Karşıyaka's overall level of education is recognised as being of the highest in Turkey and besides being an active venue of commerce, culture and educational actitivies and tourism, Karşıyaka also boasts an advanced urban culture of its own, centred around the cherished home team Karşıyaka SK, which commands a large and passionate fan base.

Location

House of Latife Hanım (Atatürk's wife) in Karşıyaka, prior to its restoration (2006)

Latife Hanım House after having been restored by the municipality (2008)

The industrial zone bringing together principally firms of local-scale, exception made of the notable presence of Alaybey shipyard are located in the eastern part of Karşıyaka. The same eastern corner also covers a zone of sparse settlement around the locality called Soğukkuyu, originally a seaside village of semi-nomadic Turkmens (Yörüks) made to settle here in the 19th century, and to the north is a large forest area. Karşıyaka's centre is connected to İzmir's centre by a busy schedule of railways, roads, and commuter ferries, works for the extension of İzmir's underground line to Karşıyaka currently being carried out at a rapid pace, and there are also good road links to Menemen and Aliağa to the north, to reach Çanakkale in north-west Turkey, and beyond. Originally a hamlet, then a remote suburb of İzmir in the 19th century, Karşıyaka became much larger and grew in stature in the 1960s when its waterfront developed as a prosperous residential neighbourhood.

Climate and environment

Karşıyaka bears the general characteristics of the Mediterranean climate zone. It is rainy in winter and hot in summer. As it is the case for İzmir's entire coastline, Karşıyaka benefits on a daily basis from the famous north-west wind called "imbat", because of which ships in the Gulf of İzmir will always be anchored in a northwest-southeast position, and which cools the city during summer days.

Geology

Late created formations around Izmir consist of sandstone, shale and limestone blocks some of which may be larger than several kilometers. Such formations which are generally observed on hills around the region, are the main reasons for resistance on the hills. In addition to these, the community of neogen age can easily be estimated through the andesitic compounds of volcanic origin, around Mount Yamanlar. Such units can be listed as silisium, aluminum, sodium, lava with magnesium content, tuff and tuff stuffed lava agglomerates. The lava also contains reddish brown and greenish gray large feldspar crystals. Neogen sedimentary rocks are made up of clay stone, sandstone and pebble stones at dept while being made up only of limestone on the top. At some places clay stone is observed on limestone layers. It is possible to say that ground resistance is satisfactory in regions covered with limestone on top, while ground resistance is low in regions which has thin layers of limestone intercalated with mud rocks

Administration

The urban zone of Karşıyaka is divided into 43 officially constituted neighbourhoods, and the district also counts two depending villages, Sancaklı and Yamanlar, the last being located near the summit of the mountain of the same name, Mount Yamanlar, which towers over Karşıyaka and the Gulf.

Karşıyaka is a stronghold of the social-democrats. Currently, the municipality is administered by Cevat Durak of the CHP (Republican People's Party). And here some words of him:

Healthy societies are made up of healthy individuals. Local administrations have significant tasks in reaching a society made up of healthy individuals. So as to provide a happier and more peaceful future for our district community we must see our potential problems and deficiencies today and suggest smart and effective solutions. As local administrators one of our main tasks is to make sure that everyone gets equal access to all social, cultural, health and physical services. Health and sustainable development are closely correlated. It is extremely important to better elaborate on the positive and negative consequences of the correlation between development and environment as well impacts thereof on people and to make decisions accordingly. Therefore, identification of problems has a key role in enhancing health and life quality.

The City Profile of Karşıyaka explains the current situation in Karşıyaka and it will help to prepare Karşıyaka Health Development Plan, which will draw the future framework of the district. I would like to thank everyone who contributed to the preparation of this Profile. I hope to have a better Karşıyaka in the future …

35½ and Karşıyaka SK

Karşıyaka S.K. colors

Karşıyaka SK is the sports club of Karşıyaka. It is also called "KSK", and locally as Kaf Sin Kaf, following the initials in Arabic script since the club's past dates back to Ottoman times. The club has a large and very passionate fan base. Although its football team is presently in the second level of the Turkish football league system, it still represents İzmir's strongest bid for the Süper Lig. Karşıyaka S.K.'s basketball and volleyball branches, known respectively as Pınar Karşıyaka (by the name of their sponsors) and Karşıyaka Women's Volleyball Team, are leading contenders in their fields. The club also has cue sports, bowling, motorcycle, tennis, sailing, judo and swimming divisions.

The district's overall level of education is one of the highest in Turkey and Karşıyaka boasts of an advanced urban culture. The locals are highly conscious of their values and view their district as a special place in a mindset centered on Karşıyaka's notable past and present, as well as around the red and green colours of their sports club. Sometimes with a touch of humour, but also sometimes more seriously, they immatriculate their cherished district of Karşıyaka as 35½, as opposed to İzmir's 35.

In the year of 1908, when Meşrutiyet ve İttihat-ı Terakki Party has announced freedom, young generation was marching through the streets yelling out “freedom”

However, soccer was under the control of non-Turks. Greeks had many soccer clubs such as Panionios and Apollon. Minorities were playing soccer among each other and were trying to reflect their sovereignty to the soccer fields. Back in those days, 6 young Karsiyaka lovers purchased a ball combining their monies and started playing soccer at a field which was next to Osman Pasa Mosque.

This field is located where we have the kids nursery house now, one part adjacent to Alaybey, other part adjacent to Karsiyaka; owned by a person named Omiros who was originally Russian with British wife; but from Karsiyaka.

Young leaders among their peers; Kadızade Zühtü Işıl, Kadızade Raşit, Süreyya İplikçi, Refik Civelek, Osman Nuri and Örnekköylü Hüseyin; they decided to start up a community when they have gathered under an olive tree after rain started sprinkling. As an uprising, on November 1, 1328 (1912) they have founded Karşıyaka Muaresei Bedeniye which is known as Karsiyaka Spor Kulubu today. “Kaf Sin Kaf” K.S.K. is how it is pronounced in Arabic language. Until the foundation of Altay in 1912, Karsiyaka was the only Turkish sports club in Izmir.

Karsiyaka Sports Club’s first member and founder Kadızade Zühtü Işıl has fought for 8 years during First World War and National Liberation at different fronts; he even held hostage by Brits at Palestinian Front during “Canal Operation”

Colors of the club are green and red. Based on the foundation dates and conditions, colors have patriotic and religious meanings embedded into it. Green represents Islam, red respresents the Turkey flag and being Turkish.

First squad for red-greens in history is; Raşit Kadızade (captain), Suat Karşıyaka, Refik Civelek, Kaleci Salih, Çakır Kemal, Örnekköylü Hüseyin, İtalyan Hanri Barter, Kemal Paşalı Sarı Ali, Muharrem Hüsamettin ve Zühtü Işıl. When original six was founin the club, they had Hüsnü Tonak, Tahir Bor, Fevzi Fikri Altay ve Sezai Çullu with them as well. This team had played challenging games against foreign teams during First World War and National Liberation.

The team that ex President Adnan Menderes was playing, has joined the Liberation War. This team has fought at multiple fronts joining the forces of Mustafa Kemal in Anatolia. They were one of the first ones entering Izmir and cleaning their land from foreign occupation. After the war, the team has gathered again; one of the first teams of Karsiyaka can be seen on the following picture. On the back, Salih, Çakır Kemal, Suat Karşıyaka; middle section, Dr. Kemal Tahsin, Örnekköylü Hüseyin, Sabri Süleymanoviç, Emin, Hüsnü; in the front Hasan, Refik, Kadızade Raşit, Kadızade Zühtü Işıl.

Karsiyaka has invited Fenerbahce to Izmir in 1924. There was only Altay back in those days in Izmir, clubs such as Göztepe, İzmirspor and Altınordu didn’t exist. Karsiyaka became champion of Izmir in 1926.

Kadızade Zühtü Işıl is the founder of Karsiyaka Sports Club. He has played soccer his club. Based on Yasar Aksoy’s “Kaf Sin Kaf History” book, he was a customs broker.

Above is the picture of one of Ottoman Sultan; Sultan Reşat when he was at the army

On September 9, 1922; Zühtü Işıl was one of the first rebellions entered Izmir with his sword in his hands. He passed away on April 22, 1985 at the age of 89 years. His grave is at Hacilarkiri Cemetery.

Economy

Karşıyaka Pier in an older picture

Karşıyaka is deeply associated with commerce, construction of residences, education and literature, and is a prized area for pensioners, not only in the scale of İzmir but also from across Turkey as a whole. A total of 220,000 residences make up the urban area and the average yearly increase of the district population is 2.3 per cent. The district area having been almost entirely built up, Karşıyaka today acts principally as a residential centre for the workforce of İzmir's industry and services, who generally commute for work to neighbouring Çiğli and Bornova, Alsancak across the gulf, or even to locations further afield like Kemalpaşa and Manisa. The share of agriculture and industry in its economy is in constant decrease, while Karşıyaka's tourism potential remains an open field.

The waterfront is the wealthier part of Karşıyaka and it is here that residents of long date are generally concentrated. The neighbourhoods located along the slopes are poorer, with slum-type residences in parts, and these continue receiving flows of immigration, especially from Turkey's Eastern Anatolia Region. The district counts a total of 11,570 enterprises, 207 of which are identified as industrial firms, and 3,180 categorised under commerce. Nine industrial companies have full or partial foreign capital and 143 commercial establishments in Karşıyaka are registered exporters. There are eighteen banks providing services through 61 branches in Karşıyaka, and a handful of hotels with a total bed capacity of 180. There is one teacher for 24 students and one doctor for 1,127 patients overall. The literacy rate is very high at 92 per cent. An environment of urban consciousness also favoured the foundation of a high number of professional organisations in varied fields in Karşıyaka, ranging from trade (such as KASİAD, BESİAD, BOGİAD) to education, usually centred around teachers or alumni of the district's rooted institutions.

History and sights of interest

Traces of the earliest phases of the timeline of İzmir, such as "The Tomb of Tantalus" and "Old Smyrna" are located at a stone's throw from Karşıyaka, in the very recently constituted metropolitan district of Bayraklı, which was formerly within the boundaries of the district of Karşıyaka.

Karşıyaka was described in frequent terms of admiration by travellers who visited İzmir, and they could not help but mention in detail the dense forests of Mount Yamanlar, reaching as far as the coast, and the beautiful gardens and orchards which garnish the shoreline and along the beds of its four streams, namely Ahırkuyu, Serinkuyu, Laka and Bornova. Named Karşıyaka (literally "the opposite shore") in Turkish since the 11th century, the locality was alternatively called Cordelio or Cordelieu or Kordelyo in European or Greek sources until the beginning of the 20th century. These names were supposed to make reference to Richard the Lionheart (Coeur de Lion), who is not attested to have come to these waters in person, but it was usually claimed that the area was named in the 1190s by a contingent of Crusaders of the Third Crusade who was accosted here and had named it in honour of Europe's most famed soldier of the time. This explanation of the name is disputed, some sources taking as point of departure the mention of the name (in the form "Kordeleon") in Byzantine documents of the 14th century and questioning whether the name Cordelio is the continuation of a more ancient settlement yet unexplored, as is most of ancient Aeolia.^[3]

Still very leafy and lush generally despite intensive construction of medium- to high-rise apartments and office buildings in recent decades, Karşıyaka grew in size after the entry into service of İzmir-Menemen railroad in 1865, and the start of urban ferry services in 1874 by a British company under an Ottoman imperial lease accorded by Abdülhamid II and named "Hamidiye" for this reason. A second shipping company put two other ferries in service starting 1880, followed in 1884 by a third company. Very rapidly, it became fashionable for European and Levantine inhabitants of İzmir, concentrated in Bornova and Buca until then, to build or purchase houses in Karşıyaka particularly for the dowry of their daughters, which contributed to the growing popularity among the rich of the gulf's northern shores.

Levantine-built Loehner Mansion in Karşıyaka

In pace with its resort-like atmosphere, Karşıyaka saw a number of beautiful Ottoman konaks or Levantine mansions erected within its boundaries, especially along the shoreline and serving as secondary residence. Luxury multi-storey residences at immediate seaside quickly rose next to modest inner quartiers around the train station where the working class was concentrated and the Turkish village of Soğukkuyu ^[4] The commuting movements and the way of life of İzmir's inhabitants were profoundly changed since then with Karşıyaka becoming part of the urban fabric.

By the time of the 1891 census, Karşıyaka had already acquired the appearance of a large township with 832 houses and a permanent population of 1080. A sizable Turkish population settled in Karşıyaka's Soğukkuyu some time before that date and that area is still distinguished by its rustic houses in the middle of the urban zone. In the meantime, the former village of Papa Scala or Papazkale or Papazköyü or Papaz İskelesi (Priest's quay) to the west came to be known as Bostanlı, in reference to melons and watermelons from Menemen which were discharged and loaded on ships here.^[5]

The four most important reminders of the Levantine heritage still intact in Karşıyaka are the Alliotti, Penetti, Van Der Zee, and Löhner houses. The first was built by a prominent Levantine family of Italian origins in 1914 and was exchanged in the 1920s against property belonging to Durmuş Yaşar, the founder of Yaşar Holding. The mansion is known today under Yaşar's name and serves as a vocational training centre. The last two have recently been restored; the first floor of the Van Der Zee mansion has been put to public use by the municipality in the form of a café (Eski Ev Cafe).

There is also a 1904-built Catholic Church (Saint Helen church) that served a community of about 200 families and which is recently restored. Edouard Balladur, the former Prime Minister of France, notably, was baptised there.

There are also more modest but still lovely little houses, characterised by their engaged front doors and narrow lines, termed as "Sakız houses", and which are highly typical of the region surrounding İzmir.

Karşıyaka is also where Zübeyde Hanım, Atatürk's mother, spent her last days in end-1922 and January 1923, and is where she is buried. The house she died, which belonged to the family of Latife Uşşaki, Mustafa Kemal Pasha's wife, is restored and it is located right in the centre of the urban zone, near the main commercial street, Karşıyaka's famous Çarşı.

Atatürk's feelings and words about Karşıyaka: İzmir‘in Karşıyakalıları... Sizi derin muhabbetle selamlarım... Ben bütün İzmir’i ve bütün İzmirlileri severim. Güzel İzmir’in temiz kalpli insanlarının da beni sevdiklerine eminim. Yanlız bir rastlantı beni Karşıyaka’ya daha fazla bağlamıştır. Karşıyakalılar, annem sinenizde, sizin topraklarınızda yatıyor. Karşıyakalılar, İzmir’i gördüğüm gün öncelikle Karşıyaka’yı ve orada sizin Türk topraklarınızda yatan anamın mezarını gördüm.

See also

Karşıyaka's newly built residential quarters such as Mavişehir above become subject of debates on the potential menace they may constitute for Gediz River delta's flora and fauna

• İzmir
• Karşıyaka SK
• Pınar Karşıyaka
• Karşıyaka Arena
• Levantine mansions of İzmir

External links

• http://www.kskbasket.net/en/club-history.html
• http://www.karsiyaka.bel.tr/kentsaglik.pdf
• Karşıyaka LIFE Magazine

Resources

Footnotes

v t e Settlements in Karşıyaka District, İzmir, Turkey Municipalities: Karşıyaka Villages: Yamanlar Sancaklı

v t e Karşıyaka in Izmir Province of Turkey Central district(s) İzmir Balçova Bayraklı Bornova Buca Çiğli Gaziemir Güzelbahçe Karabağlar Karşıyaka Konak Menemen Narlıdere Other districts Aliağa Bayındır Bergama Beydağ Çeşme Dikili Foça Karaburun Kemalpaşa Kınık Kiraz Menderes Ödemiş Seferihisar Selçuk Tire Torbalı Urla List of Provinces by Region Istanbul Istanbul Western Marmara Balıkesir Çanakkale Edirne Kırklareli Tekirdağ Aegean Afyonkarahisar Aydın Denizli İzmir Kütahya Manisa Muğla Uşak Eastern Marmara Bilecik Bolu Bursa Düzce Eskişehir Kocaeli Sakarya Yalova Western Anatolia Ankara Karaman Konya Mediterranean Adana Antalya Burdur Hatay Isparta Kahramanmaraş Mersin Osmaniye Central Anatolia Aksaray Kayseri Kırıkkale Kırşehir Nevşehir Niğde Sivas Yozgat Western Black Sea Amasya Bartın Çankırı Çorum Karabük Kastamonu Samsun Sinop Tokat Zonguldak Eastern Black Sea Artvin Giresun Gümüşhane Ordu Rize Trabzon North Eastern Anatolia Ağrı Ardahan Bayburt Erzincan Erzurum Iğdır Kars Central Eastern Anatolia Bingöl Bitlis Elâzığ Hakkâri Malatya Muş Tunceli Van South Eastern Anatolia Adıyaman Batman Diyarbakır Gaziantep Kilis Mardin Siirt Şanlıurfa Şırnak Metropolitan municipalities are bolded.