Bitlis Province

Bitlis Province
Bitlis ili
Province of Turkey

Location of Bitlis Province in Turkey
Country Turkey
Region Central East Anatolia
Subregion Van
Government
 • Electoral district Bitlis
Area
 • Total 6,707 km2 (2,590 sq mi)
Population (2010)[1]
 • Total 341,225
 • Density 51/km2 (130/sq mi)
Area code(s) 0434
Vehicle registration 13

Bitlis Province (Turkish: Bitlis ili and Kurdish: Parêzgeha Peniyan‎) is a province of eastern Turkey, located to the west of Lake Van. The majority of the province's population is Kurdish.[2]

History

Bitlis was formed as an administrative district in the 17th Century. The administrative center was the town of Bitlis (Kurdish: Bidlîs‎, Armenian: Բիթլիս), which was called Bagesh, in old Armenian sources.[3]

Districts

Bitlis Province is divided into 7 districts (the capital district is in bold):

Economy

As of 1920, the province was producing small amounts of iron, copper, lead, and sulphur. Even smaller amounts of gold and silver were found in the areas of Sairt and Khairwan. Salt made up the largest mineral industry in the province, so much that it was exported to surrounding provinces. The salt was produced in pans, using evaporation, and taking 8 to 10 days to mature. The technique and trade was mainly run by local Kurds. The British described the technique as being "primitive".[4]

Attractions

References

  1. ↑ Turkish Statistical Institute, MS Excel document – Population of province/district centers and towns/villages and population growth rate by provinces
  2. ↑ Watts, Nicole F. (2010). Activists in Office: Kurdish Politics and Protest in Turkey (Studies in Modernity and National Identity). Seattle: University of Washington Press. p. 167. ISBN 978-0-295-99050-7.
  3. ↑ Britannica: Bitlis
  4. ↑ Prothero, W.G. (1920). Armenia and Kurdistan. London: H.M. Stationery Office. p. 71.
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Coordinates: 38°23′13″N 42°07′00″E / 38.38694°N 42.11667°E / 38.38694; 42.11667


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