Akçakoca is a town in Düzce Province, in the West Black Sea Region of Turkey, located about 200 km east of Istanbul. It is the seat of Akçakoca District.[3] Its population is 27,878 (2022).[2] The town was named after a Turkish chieftain of the 14th century CE who captured the area for the Ottoman Empire, and sports a statue in his honor. The town features a modern mosque of unusual design. Tourist attractions include beaches and a small ruined Genoese castle. It is the regional center of hazelnut cultivation.
Akçakoca | |
|---|---|
 Akçakoca beach | |
  Akçakoca Location in Turkey | |
| Coordinates: 41°05′16″N 31°07′28″E / 41.08778°N 31.12444°E | |
| Country | Turkey |
| Province | Düzce |
| District | Akçakoca |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Fikret Albayrak[1] (CHP) |
| Population (2022)[2] | 27,878 |
| Time zone | UTC 3 (TRT) |
| Area code | 0380 |
| Climate | Cfa |
| Website | www |
Name
editIn the classical period the town Dia or Diospolis was located at the site of present Akçakoca.[4][5] After the Turkish conquest, the town was named Akçaşehir, before being changed to Akçakoca in 1934.[6]
Population
editAlthough Akçakoca's estimated population is about 30,000; it increases during summer months, due to tourism activities and cottage owners. Due to war, specifically the one between the Ottomans and Russia in 1877–1878, a wide range of people, most of whom had roots in the Pontic region (Lazes, Georgians, and Abkhazians), emigrated from their native lands to settle in Akçakoca.[7]
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 22,416 | — |
| 2012 | 23,359 | 0.83% |
| 2017 | 25,573 | 1.83% |
| 2022 | 27,878 | 1.74% |
| Source: TÜIK (2007-2022)[2] | ||
History
editLatin-Nicea Empires Period and Genoese
editDuring the Fourth Crusade, European armies conquered Constantinople in 1204, founding the Latin Empire for a short period. Because of this situation, the Genoese established commercial bases on the Western Black Sea coasts for their interests, which included a Genoese castle in Akçakoca. This castle helped to protect trade routes in the area and was used for commercial activities itself. When the Nicea Empire reconquered Constaninople in 1261, Akçakoca, which was under the auspices of the Nicea Empire, came under Byzantine rule again.
Turkic people seem to have been living in Akçakoca since 1243, after Mongol pressure and defeat. From Kastamonu, the Oghuz tribes of Kınık and Üçok migrated westward, some of them came to Akçakoca and settled. The Oghuz Turks then plundered Genoese trade centers and Greek villages, upon which the Genoese and Greeks complained to the Byzantine Emperor, the Byzantine Emperor responded to the complaints and brought and settled Christian Cumans, Pechenegs, Uzes from Romania Dobruja to protect the region against the Turkmens. Oguz from the Kayı tribe settled here.[8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]
The Seljuks and Ottoman
editBefore the crusades, The Seljuk Sultanate of Rum controlled the region around Akçakoca.
There is no evidence that a military action was taken by the Ottomans to conquer Akçakoca from the Byzantines. According to some historians, the Turk population submitted to Ottoman rule without military action.
In the late 19th and early 20th century, Akçakoca was part of the Kastamonu Vilayet of the Ottoman Empire.[21][22]
Republic
editAfter the foundation of Turkish Republic, it was renamed Akçakoca. The first governor was Ali Zarifi (Okay). Due to the 1999 Düzce and Marmara earthquakes, Düzce had been declared a province by the government, and the town was included in the new province as a district.
Climate
editAkçakoca has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen: Cfa).
| Climate data for Akçakoca (1991–2020) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 9.6 (49.3) |
10.0 (50.0) |
11.9 (53.4) |
15.2 (59.4) |
19.7 (67.5) |
24.4 (75.9) |
27.0 (80.6) |
27.4 (81.3) |
24.2 (75.6) |
20.1 (68.2) |
15.6 (60.1) |
11.8 (53.2) |
18.1 (64.6) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 5.5 (41.9) |
5.8 (42.4) |
7.5 (45.5) |
10.7 (51.3) |
15.2 (59.4) |
19.7 (67.5) |
22.2 (72.0) |
22.6 (72.7) |
19.1 (66.4) |
15.1 (59.2) |
10.6 (51.1) |
7.4 (45.3) |
13.5 (56.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 2.0 (35.6) |
2.1 (35.8) |
3.6 (38.5) |
6.5 (43.7) |
10.7 (51.3) |
14.6 (58.3) |
17.0 (62.6) |
17.6 (63.7) |
14.3 (57.7) |
10.9 (51.6) |
6.4 (43.5) |
3.7 (38.7) |
9.1 (48.4) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 125.32 (4.93) |
89.24 (3.51) |
90.34 (3.56) |
57.98 (2.28) |
55.9 (2.20) |
80.96 (3.19) |
66.41 (2.61) |
81.28 (3.20) |
107.43 (4.23) |
140.34 (5.53) |
112.01 (4.41) |
151.13 (5.95) |
1,158.34 (45.60) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 13.2 | 11.1 | 10.8 | 8.5 | 7.3 | 6.5 | 4.8 | 5.0 | 6.6 | 9.7 | 9.6 | 13.4 | 106.5 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 82.3 | 82.1 | 82.3 | 83.9 | 85.1 | 83.6 | 83.3 | 83.6 | 83.4 | 85.5 | 83.8 | 81.8 | 83.3 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 67.2 | 82.1 | 116.0 | 157.1 | 200.5 | 264.4 | 305.1 | 293.1 | 219.8 | 146.2 | 102.4 | 69.4 | 1,929.8 |
| Source: NOAA[23] | |||||||||||||
Economy
editTourism
editAfter the 1950s, touristic activities in summer seasons attained an important place in Akçakoca's economy. The construction of tourism facilities and new transportation improvements further influenced tourism in the late-1970's.
Water sports
editNumerous water sports such as sailing, swimming, water skiing, sunbathing, fishing, scuba diving, are performed in Akçakoca. Sailing and diving have become more prominent in the last few years. In 2010, sailing races have been held as part of the 14th Akçakoca Festival. Furthermore, the first Marine and Sailing Club in the town was opened in town in 2012.[24]
Heavy industry
editAkçakoca has one large factory, which produces large pipes for a variety of purposes. It has great importance both Akçakoca and Ereğli. Akçakoca also has only natural gas platform over the Black Sea. There are four platforms which three of them are small and one is big.[25]
Fishing
editFishing is traditional job in Akçakoca. Anchovies, nonita, bluefish, whiting, red mullet, clams, jack mackerel, sea bass, salmon, trout, and turbot are some of fish that can be found.
Government
editOne governor's office and one municipality building can be found in Akçakoca. It has one state hospital, one rest home and a small tourism office for tourists.
Construction
editThere is an attractive mosque what built in 2004. Akçakoca Central Mosque was built in a similar fashion to Faisal Mosque in Pakistan. The mosque was designed by Ergün Subaşı.[26] This highly irregular mosque was placed above 160 concrete poles driven into the ground. The dome height is 31 meters and covered by 32 tons of copper plates. And the chandelier that resembles the dome in reverse weigh around 1300 kg. The rocket like minarets are at 58 meters in height.[27]
Culture
editFestivals
editThere is a traditional festival every July. During the festival, scheduled buses from neighbor towns and cities, such as Ereğli, Düzce, Zonguldak, Bolu and Adapazarı carrypeople to Akçakoca.
Languages
editSome native languages are nearly forgotten, but there are some towns and people who speak Georgian, Laz and Circassian. Native Turk people of Akçakoca are Manav Turks.[28]
Dances and Music
editBecause of the presence of many residents originally from the eastern Black Sea littoral, 'Horon', played with the Pontic lyra/kemençe are popular here.
Damage to Historical and Natural Heritage
editTourism activities in Akçakoca rely on short summer tourism, also depending on beach tourism, also referred to as sea-sand-sun tourism. Prior to 1945, Akçakoca had a wider and longer coastline. The beach extended from Cuhallı to the rocks on the western side (today there is a five-star hotel called Skytower) and continued until the castle beach below Geonavise Castle. However, road construction, cafes, restaurants, hotels, and residential buildings have made the beach narrower and shorter on the Cuhallı side. In the center of Akçakoca, there used to be a large and beautiful beach, which was part of Cuhallı Beach, but now there is a harbor for fishermen. Many locals attribute the construction of the harbor, formed by piling concrete and rocks, to the discomfort felt by conservative elements towards people swimming and walking in swimsuits and shorts.
In Akçakoca, there are many wooden houses in neighborhoods such as Yukarı Mahalle, Cumhuriyet Mahallesi, and Orhangazi. The government has declared these areas as protected sites. As a result, no one can claim ownership of these houses, not even their owners can intervene for repairs and use. Most of these houses are collapsing, and some are damaged by fire because it is illegal to make any changes in the area. However, the government has yet to take action regarding these houses and areas. Consequently, they are quietly awaiting their fate.
Gallery
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Melen Creek -
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Autumn in Akçakoca -
Fakıllı Cave -
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Akcakoca Merkez Camii
References
edit- ^ "Yerel Seçimler Akçakoca Belediye Başkanlığı Seçim Sonuçları". 1 April 2024.
- ^ a b c "Population Of Municipalities, Villages And Quarters". TÜIK. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
- ^ İlçe Belediyesi, Turkey Civil Administration Departments Inventory. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
- ^ Lund University. Digital Atlas of the Roman Empire.
- ^ Stillwell, Richard; MacDonald, William L.; McAllister, Marian Holland, eds. (1976). "Akçakoca". The Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites. Princeton University Press.
- ^ "Belediye Tarihçesi" (in Turkish). Akçakoca Belediyesi. Retrieved 2021-03-13.
İlçemize 7 Eylül 1934'te Akça Koca Bey'in adı verilmiş ve Akçaşehir olan eski adı Akçakoca olarak değiştirilmiştir.
- ^ Özlü, Zeynel. XVIII. ve XIX. Yüzyıllarda Karadeniz'de Bir Kıyı Kenti Akçakoca.
- ^ [1] Pdf About Akçakoca Region And Its History
- ^ K.oe.yleri-7.htm İbrahim Tuzcu's Book of Green Akçakoca
- ^ "The Greek Empire of Nicaea in the Face of the Mongol Invasion: III. John Vatatzes Era Hüseyin ŞEN". The Journal of Turkish History Researches / Journal of Turkish History Researches. 6 (1). ISSN (online): 2459-0185 ISSN (print): 2548-091X. 2021. Archived from the original on 31 May 2022. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
- ^ “The Byzantine Empire's Transfer of Cuman-Alan Communities from the Balkans to Anatolia Against the Turkish Expansion in Western Anatolia”
- ^ “Paid Turkish Soldiers in the Byzantine Army (XI .-XII. Centuries)”, Selçuk University Journal of Turkic Studies, p. 25, 2009, p. 53-69.
- ^ “IV. Two Rivals Struggling in Western Anatolia After the Crusade: The Latin Kingdom of Istanbul and the Empire of Nicaea”, Cihannüma Journal of History and Geography Studies, p.1, July, 2015, p. 9-25.
- ^ BELDICEANU-STEINHERR, Irene, “The Non-Muslim Population in Bithynia (second half of the 14th century – first half of the 15th century)”, Ottoman Principality 1300–1389, ed. Elizabeth A. Zacharadou, trans. Gul Cagali Guven, Ismail Yergun, Tülin Altinova, 2nd Edition, History Foundation Yurt Publishing, Istanbul, 1997, p. 8-22.
- ^ GOLUBOVSKİY, P.V., Peçenegi, Torki i Polovtsı Rus i Step Do Nashestviya Tatar, Veçe, Moskva, 2011.
- ^ ÖZTÜRK, Meriç T., The Provincial Aristocracy In Byzantine Asia Minor (1081–1261), Boğaziçi University, Unpublished Master Thesis, Istanbul, 2013.
- ^ VASARY, Istvan, Cumans and Tatars Eastern Soldiers in the Pre-Ottoman Balkans (1185–1365), 2. Print, trans. Ali Cevat Akkoyunlu, Yapı Kredi Publications, Istanbul, 2015.
- ^ WOLF, Robert Lee, “The Latin Empire Of Constantinople 1204-1261”, A History Of The Crusaders, Volume II Later Crusades (1189–1311), General ed. Kenneth M. Setton, ed. by. Robert Lee Wolf and Harry W. Hazard, The University of Wisconsin Press, Madison, Milwaukee and London, 1969, p. 187-233.
- ^ KEÇİŞ, Murat, “XIII.-XIV. Northwest Anatolian Road Networks According to Century Byzantine and Islamic Sources”, Belleten, C. LXXVII, P. 280, 2013, Ankara, p. 849-874.
- ^ “A Broken Mirror: The Kipchak World In The Thirteenth Century”, The Other Europe in the Middle Ages, Avars, Bulgars, Khazars and Cumans, ed. by. Florin Curta, Roman Kovalev, Brill, Leiden-Boston, 2008, p. 379-412.
- ^ "Tarihçe – Akçakoca Belediyesi" (in Turkish). Retrieved 2022-12-22.
- ^ Özlü, Zeynel. XVIII. ve XIX. Yüzyıllarda Karadeniz'de Bir Kıyı Kenti Akçakoca. p. 32.
- ^ "World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991-2020 — Akçakoca". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
- ^ "Akçakoca Denizcilik ve Yelken Kulübü Törenle Açıldı". Sondakika.com (in Turkish). 2012-05-12. Retrieved 2018-12-05.
- ^ "Demirören Haber Ajans – Son Dakika Haberleri ve Güncel Haberler". DHA. Retrieved 2018-12-05.
- ^ Mass, Leslie Noyes (2011). Back to Pakistan : a fifty-year journey. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. ISBN 978-1-4422-1319-7. OCLC 724674145.
- ^ "Akcakoca Mosque, Duzce". Pbase. Retrieved 2020-03-22.
- ^ [2] Akcakoca ethnic cultural inventory
External links
edit
- Municipality's official website (in Turkish)
- Pictures of Akçakoca