Erdek is a municipality and

district A district is a type of administrative division that in some countries is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or county, counties, several municipality, municip ...

of Balıkesir Province,

Turkey Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a relatively small part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia (country), Georgia, Armen ...

. Its area is 307 km², and its population is 31,902 (2022). Located on the Kapıdağ Peninsula, on the north coast of the Gulf of Erdek at the south of the Sea of Marmara, Erdek is a popular domestic holiday destination with several hotels dating back to the 1960s. The surrounding area has a rugged geology and topography with evergreen wooded areas and large olive groves. It is dominated by Mt Dindymus (782m). Erdek district also included the islands of Koyun and Paşalimanı. In the summer ferries travel from Erdek to Avşa Adası, one of the Marmara Islands in the Sea of Marmara. The harbour overlooks tiny Zeytinlik island where there is a research station devoted to olives.

History

During the Hittite era it was known as ''Artukka''. Later it became a colony of

Miletus Miletus (Ancient Greek: Μίλητος, Mílētos) was an influential ancient Greek city on the western coast of Anatolia, near the mouth of the Maeander River in present day Turkey. Renowned in antiquity for its wealth, maritime power, and ex ...

.Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography, Artace
/ref> Together with other Greek cities, it took part in the Ionian Revolt against the

Persian Empire The Achaemenid Empire or Achaemenian Empire, also known as the Persian Empire or First Persian Empire (; , , ), was an Iranian empire founded by Cyrus the Great of the Achaemenid dynasty in 550 BC. Based in modern-day Iran, it was the larg ...

, but was burnt by the Persians; it seems unlikely that it was rebuilt in ancient times since

Strabo Strabo''Strabo'' (meaning "squinty", as in strabismus) was a term employed by the Romans for anyone whose eyes were distorted or deformed. The father of Pompey was called "Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo, Pompeius Strabo". A native of Sicily so clear-si ...

does not mention it. In the Roman period it was known as Artace. During the Ottoman period, Erdek was the centre of the Sanjak of Karasi. According to the Ottoman General Census of 1881/82–1893, the kaza of Erdek had a total population of 33,007, consisting of 29,165

Greeks Greeks or Hellenes (; , ) are an ethnic group and nation native to Greece, Greek Cypriots, Cyprus, Greeks in Albania, southern Albania, Greeks in Turkey#History, Anatolia, parts of Greeks in Italy, Italy and Egyptian Greeks, Egypt, and to a l ...

, 3,070 Muslims, 300

Jews Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...

, 18

Armenians Armenians (, ) are an ethnic group indigenous to the Armenian highlands of West Asia.Robert Hewsen, Hewsen, Robert H. "The Geography of Armenia" in ''The Armenian People From Ancient to Modern Times Volume I: The Dynastic Periods: From Antiq ...

and 454 foreign citizens. In the 1960s, before Bodrum and

Marmaris Marmaris () is a municipality and Districts of Turkey, district of Muğla Province, Turkey. Its area is 906 km2, and its population is 97,818 (2022). It is a port city and tourist resort on the Aegean Sea, Mediterranean coast, along the shorel ...

became popular vacation spots, Erdek was a fashionable holiday resort for Istanbul residents. The Pinar Oteli was the most popular place to stay then and is still in business today.

Composition

There are 28 neighbourhoods in Erdek District: * Alaaddin * Aşağıyapıcı * Atatürk * Balıklı * Ballıpınar * Belkıs * Çakılköy * Çeltikçi * Doğanlar * Halitpaşa * Hamamlı * Harmanlı * İlhanköy * Karşıyaka * Kestanelik * Narlı * Ocaklar * Ormanlı * Paşalimanı * Poyrazlı * Sahil * Şahinburgaz * Tatlısu * Turan * Tuzla * Yalı * Yukarıyapıcı * Zeytinli

Twin towns — sister cities

Erdek is twinned with: *

Otranto Otranto (, , ; ; ; ; ) is a coastal town, port and ''comune'' in the province of Lecce (Apulia, Italy), in a fertile region once famous for its breed of horses. It is one of I Borghi più belli d'Italia ("The most beautiful villages of Italy"). ...

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

since 2001Sister/Twin Cities of Balıkesir Province
/ref>

References

External links

Erdek OtelleriAbout Erdek
Erdek, restaurant,otel,maps,motel,information content.
Erdek Tourism
Tourism page with interactive map and panorama videos.
Erdek Oteller PansiyonlarErdek Hotel
{{Authority control Seaside resorts in Turkey Populated places in Balıkesir Province Districts of Balıkesir Province Metropolitan district municipalities in Turkey Port cities of the Sea of Marmara Fishing communities in Turkey Populated coastal places in Turkey Members of the Delian League Former Greek towns in Turkey Milesian colonies Greek colonies in Mysia

History

Composition

Twin towns — sister cities

See also

References

External links