Akköprü

Akköprü (Turkish: ak köprü, "white bridge", Ottoman Turkish: اق کوپری) is a historical bridge in Yenimahalle district of Ankara, Turkey, crosses the Ankara River in front of Varlık neighbourhood. It is the oldest bridge in Ankara and still in good condition. The neighbourhood around the bridge was also named 'Akköprü'. The area is home to the great Atatürk Cultural Centre and Ankamall shopping centre, the biggest mall in Ankara.

History

The bridge was constructed during the reign of the Seljuk sultan Alaaddin Kayqubad I in the early 13th century. It was commissioned by Kızıl Bey, the Seljuk governor of Ankara, in 1222. The bridge was located on the old trade route to Baghdad.

The bridge.

Structure

The main construction material used in the construction of the bridge is basalt stone. The bridge has seven arches, four of them being bigger and the others smaller. The metallic parapets were attached subsequently. There are two inscriptions in the western side of the bridge, one of them being rubbed out.

References

• Kenthaber.com. "General information on Yenimahalle, Ankara" (in Turkish). Retrieved 2008-04-01. 

External links

• Wowturkey.com - Images of Akköprü bridge (Turkish)

Coordinates: 39°57′14.0″N 32°49′56.6″E / 39.953889°N 32.832389°E / 39.953889; 32.832389

Bridges in Turkey Akköprü Aspendos (Eurymedon) Bridge Atatürk Bridge Birecik Bridge Boğaziçi Bridge Demirköprü Dicle Bridge Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge Fırtına River bridges Galata Bridge Golden Horn Metro Bridge Haliç Bridge Hasankeyf Old Bridge İzmit Bay Bridge Kanuni Bridge Kemerarası Bridge Kömürhan Bridge Malabadi Bridge Misis Bridge Nissibi Euphrates Bridge Penkalas Bridge Saraçhane Bridge Severan Bridge Silifke Bridge Selge (Eurymedon) Bridge Taşköprü Uzunköprü Varda Bridge Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge Bridges in italic are under construction