Aşıkşenlik

Aşıkşenlik (Yakınsu)
Town
Aşıkşenlik Location in Turkey
Coordinates: 41°09′N 43°13′E / 41.150°N 43.217°E / 41.150; 43.217Coordinates: 41°09′N 43°13′E / 41.150°N 43.217°E / 41.150; 43.217
Country	Turkey
Province	Ardahan Province
District	Çıldır
Elevation	1,915 m (6,280 ft)
Population (2010)
• Total	896
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
• Summer (DST)	EEST (UTC+3)
Postal code	75400
Area code(s)	478
Licence plate	75

Aşıkşenlik (former Sukara and Yakınsu) is a town in Ardahan Province, Turkey. The present name of the town refers to an Aşık Şenlik, a folk poet (1850-1913).

Geography

Aşıkşenlik is in Çıldır district of Ardahan Province. At 41°09′N 43°13′E / 41.150°N 43.217°E / 41.150; 43.217 it is 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) to Çıldır, 45 kilometres (28 mi) to Ardahan and 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) to Georgia border check point. It is situated in a high altitude wetland. The population of the town is 896^[1] as of 2010.

History

Aşıkşenlik is an old settlement It was captured by Seljukid sultan Alp Arslan in 1064. After Harzemshah, Kipchaks and Mongols dominations it was annexed by the Ottoman sultan Süleyman I in 1546. According to Evliya Çelebi who lived in the 17th century, Aşıkşenlik (then known as Sukara) was one of the wealthiest towns of the Ottoman Empire in the east. In 1877 Russians captured Aşıkşenlik during the Russo-Turkish War (1877-1878). But in 1921 it was returned to Turkey.^[2] It was officially declared township in 1966.

Economy

Animal husbandry is the main economic sector. Ovine and cattle as well as goose are raised. Although the border check point is nearby, the gate is closed and at the moment there is no revenue from border trade.

References