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Ankara
| Ankara | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| State | Turkey |
| Province | Ankara |
| Altitude | 938 |
| Population density | 2,241.29 |
| Map | 39°54'42.12"N 32°50'25.08"E |
Ankara (also called Angora; formerly Ancyra), the capital of Turkey and the province of the same name. It lies at an altitude of 851 m, in the heart of the Anatolian plateau. As the seat of government, financial, and cultural center of the country, it has developed several industrial activities (carpets, leather, wine, agricultural tools, and cement). It is an important market for the region's agricultural products, but above all, a center for the processing of the prized mohair wool.
The old town, made up of winding alleys and houses huddled together, surrounds the remains of an ancient Byzantine stronghold (7th-9th centuries). Architectural remains tell the city's history: the temple containing the "Monumentum Ancyranum" (a precious inscription recounting the deeds of Emperor Augustus) and the ruins of the baths date back to the Roman era; the Haci Bektas and Aslaniye mosques are traces of the Arab presence; the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk is a reminder of the advent of the republic. In the new area, planned in 1932, large avenues open up and libraries, museums, embassies, government buildings, and modern, functional buildings arise. The airport provides an incentive for communications. The cultural importance of the city is demonstrated by the presence of three universities. The Museum of Anatolian Civilizations preserves an interesting collection of artifacts from the city's first conquerors, the Hittites, who occupied Ankara around 2000 BC. Passed to the Phrygians around 1000 BC, subdued by Alexander the Great in 333 BC, it later became the capital of the Galatians. Under the name of "Ancyra", it was annexed to the Roman Empire, in 189 BC, and in 25 BC it was placed at the head of the province of Galatia Prima. Its rulers were the Byzantine Empire, Persians, Arabs, Seljuk Turks (who called it "Angora"), Crusaders, Ottoman Turks, and Mongols. In 1923, with the birth of the Turkish Republic, Angora succeeded Istanbul as the capital and received its current name in 1930.
Fun Facts
[edit | edit source]- It is the home of the Angora cat; the white specimens with multi-colored eyes are considered a protected national treasure.
- Near Ankara is the burial mound of the legendary King Midas and the site where Alexander the Great cut the famous Gordian Knot.
- The majestic Kocatepe Mosque houses a supermarket and a shopping mall in its basement.
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