Mersin Province (), formerly İçel Province (), is a

province A province is an administrative division within a country or sovereign state, state. The term derives from the ancient Roman , which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire, Roman Empire's territorial possessions ou ...

and

metropolitan municipality A metropolitan municipality is a municipality established to serve a metropolitan area. Canada In generic terms and in practical application within Canada, a metropolitan municipality is an urban local government with partial or complete consol ...

in southern

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 ...

, on the

Mediterranean The Mediterranean Sea ( ) is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the east by the Levant in West Asia, on the north by Anatolia in West Asia and Southern ...

coast between

Antalya Antalya is the fifth-most populous city in Turkey and the capital of Antalya Province. Recognized as the "capital of tourism" in Turkey and a pivotal part of the Turkish Riviera, Antalya sits on Anatolia's southwest coast, flanked by the Tau ...

and

Adana Adana is a large city in southern Turkey. The city is situated on the Seyhan River, inland from the northeastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea. It is the administrative seat of the Adana Province, Adana province, and has a population of 1 81 ...

. Its area is 16,010 km², and its population is 1,916,432 (2022). The provincial capital and the biggest city in the province is

Mersin Mersin () is a large city and port on the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean coast of Mediterranean Region, Turkey, southern Turkey. It is the provincial capital of the Mersin Province (formerly İçel). It is made up of four district governorates ...

, which is composed of four municipalities and district governorates: Akdeniz, Mezitli, Toroslar and Yenişehir. Next largest is Tarsus, the birthplace of

Paul the Apostle Paul, also named Saul of Tarsus, commonly known as Paul the Apostle and Saint Paul, was a Apostles in the New Testament, Christian apostle ( AD) who spread the Ministry of Jesus, teachings of Jesus in the Christianity in the 1st century, first ...

. The province is considered to be a part of the geographical, economical and cultural region of

Çukurova Çukurova (), or the Cilician Plain (''Cilicia Pedias'' in antiquity), is a large fertile plain in the Cilicia region of southern Anatolia. The plain covers the easternmost areas of Mersin Province, southern and central Adana Province, western Os ...

, which covers the provinces of Mersin, Adana, Osmaniye and

Hatay Hatay Province (, ) is the southernmost Provinces of Turkey, province and Metropolitan municipalities in Turkey, metropolitan municipality of Turkey. Its area is , and its population is 1,686,043 (2022). It is situated mostly outside Anatolia, ...

. The capital of the province is the city of

Etymology

The province is named after its biggest city Mersin. Mersin was named after the aromatic plant genus '' Myrsine'' (, ) in the family Primulaceae, a myrtle that grows in abundance in the area. The 17th-century Ottoman traveler Evliya Çelebi has recorded in his '' Seyahatnâme'' that there was also a clan named Mersinoğulları in the area.

Geography

Ninth biggest province of Turkey by land area, Mersin consists 2,02% of

. 87% of the land area is mountain, leading up to the rocky heights of the central

Taurus Mountains The Taurus Mountains (Turkish language, Turkish: ''Toros Dağları'' or ''Toroslar,'' Greek language, Greek'':'' Ταύρος) are a mountain range, mountain complex in southern Turkey, separating the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean coastal reg ...

, the highest peak is Medetsiz (3,584 m) in the Bolkar range, and there are a number of important passes over to central

Anatolia Anatolia (), also known as Asia Minor, is a peninsula in West Asia that makes up the majority of the land area of Turkey. It is the westernmost protrusion of Asia and is geographically bounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the south, the Aegean ...

. There are many high meadows and small plains between 700 and 1500m. The coastal strip has many large areas of flatland, formed from soil brought down by rivers and streams running off the mountains. This is fertile land, the largest area being the plain of Tarsus. The largest rivers are the Göksu and the Berdan (Göksu ''Calycadnus'' and Berdan ''Cydnus'' of antiquity), but there are many small streams running into lakes, reservoirs or the Mediterranean sea. Mersin has 321 km of coastline, much of it sandy beach. The climate is typical of the Mediterranean; very hot and rainless in summer, mild and wet in winter. The winter rains can be very heavy and flooding is a problem in many areas, but it never snows on the coast, only in the mountainous areas.

History

In antiquity, this coast was part of Cilicia, named for a

Phoenicia Phoenicians were an Ancient Semitic-speaking peoples, ancient Semitic group of people who lived in the Phoenician city-states along a coastal strip in the Levant region of the eastern Mediterranean, primarily modern Lebanon and the Syria, Syrian ...

n or

Assyria Assyria (Neo-Assyrian cuneiform: , ''māt Aššur'') was a major ancient Mesopotamian civilization that existed as a city-state from the 21st century BC to the 14th century BC and eventually expanded into an empire from the 14th century BC t ...

n prince that had settled here. Trade from

Syria Syria, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in West Asia located in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Levant. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to Syria–Turkey border, the north, Iraq to Iraq–Syria border, t ...

and

Mesopotamia Mesopotamia is a historical region of West Asia situated within the Tigris–Euphrates river system, in the northern part of the Fertile Crescent. Today, Mesopotamia is known as present-day Iraq and forms the eastern geographic boundary of ...

over the mountains to central

passed through here, through the Cilician Gates. The geographer

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 ...

, described the region as being divided into "Rugged Cilicia" (''Cilicia Trachea'', Κιλικία Τραχεία in Greek) and "Flat Cilicia" (''Cilicia Pedias'', Κιλικία Πεδιάς). The capital of both sections of Cilicia was Tarsus and

was its seaport. The Seljuks later captured it from the

Byzantine The Byzantine Empire, also known as the Eastern Roman Empire, was the continuation of the Roman Empire centred on Constantinople during late antiquity and the Middle Ages. Having survived the events that caused the fall of the Western Roman E ...

s and it then came under the Crusaders then the Seljuks again and finally the

Ottomans Ottoman may refer to: * Osman I, historically known in English as "Ottoman I", founder of the Ottoman Empire * Osman II, historically known in English as "Ottoman II" * Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire (), also called the Turkish Empir ...

captured it and it remained part of the

Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire (), also called the Turkish Empire, was an empire, imperial realm that controlled much of Southeast Europe, West Asia, and North Africa from the 14th to early 20th centuries; it also controlled parts of southeastern Centr ...

until 1922.

Administration

The province of Mersin until 1933 didn't include the western territories of the modern province, which then constituted the separate İçel province, with

Silifke Silifke is a municipality and Districts of Turkey, district of Mersin Province, Mersin Province, Turkey. Its area is 2,692 km2, and its population is 132,665 (2022). It is west of the city of Mersin, on the west end of the Çukurova plain. ...

as its administrative center. In 1933, the provinces of Mersin and İçel were merged. The new province was named "İçel" and the city of

was made its capital. The province was renamed to "Mersin" on 28 June 2002.

Districts

Mersin province is divided into thirteen districts four of which are actually included within the municipality of Mersin city (shown in boldface letters). * Akdeniz * Anamur * Aydıncık * Bozyazı * Çamlıyayla * Erdemli * Gülnar * Mezitli * Mut *

* Tarsus * Toroslar * Yenişehir

Demographics

About 50% of the population of the province is younger than 24 years of age. 68% were born in Mersin. The

literacy rate Literacy is the ability to read and write, while illiteracy refers to an inability to read and write. Some researchers suggest that the study of "literacy" as a concept can be divided into two periods: the period before 1950, when literacy was ...

is 89%. About 43% of the male population and about 27% of the female population graduated from middle school.

Infant mortality Infant mortality is the death of an infant before the infant's first birthday. The occurrence of infant mortality in a population can be described by the infant mortality rate (IMR), which is the number of deaths of infants under one year of age ...

is 0.48%. Urban population growth rate is 2.42%.

Population density Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geog ...

is 117 as of November 2020.(In the table below, the four second-level municipalities are merged within Mersin proper.)

Economy

The city of Mersin is one of busiest cities in Turkey. Due to the economic activity in this part of Turkey generated by the GAP Project Mersin is Turkey's biggest Mediterranean port, and also hosts an oil refinery and a free trade zone; there are a number of factories along the road between Mersin and

, manufacturing glass, detergents, fertilizers and many more. With all this activity a modern city has grown with a university and other major amenities.

Tourism

Mersin does not have the huge volume of tourists enjoyed by neighbouring

or the Aegean coast, but Turkish people do come to this coast, especially now that the hotels have air-conditioning, and perhaps more to the mountain country behind where there are healing mineral water springs. In summer the hills are a popular retreat from the high humidity and extreme heat on the coast. West of Mersin includes bays, and little islands. Yacht touring is a tourism income in these areas.

Places of interest

* The city of Tarsus, birthplace of St Paul, whose house and well are sites of Christian pilgrimage. * Alahan Monastery *

- ancient Seleucia in Isauria, buildings include the church of Aya Tekla, the first female saint. *The ancient Roman town of Soloi-Pompeiopolis, now within the city
About Mersin
*The ancient Roman town of Anemurium, adjacent to the modern town of Anamur. *Another ancient city of Elaiussa Sebaste, 55 km from the city of Mersin. * Castles including Mamure, Kızkalesi and Namrun. * Yerköprü Waterfall

Towns and other geographic features

Towns

* Arslanköy * Ayvagediği * Büyükeceli * Çarıklar * Çeşmeli * Göksu * Gözne * Gülek * Fındıkpınarı * Kargıpınarı * Kızkalesi * Kocahasanlı * Köseçobanlı * Kuskan * Limonlu *

Narlıkuyu Narlıkuyu (; in Turkish language, Turkish) is a neighbourhood in the municipality and district of Silifke, Mersin Province, Turkey. Its population is 2,476 (2022). Before the 2013 Turkish local government reorganisation, 2013 reorganisation, it ...

* Ören * Sebil * Taşucu * Tekeli * Tekmen * Uzuncaburç * Yenice * Yeşilovacık * Yeşiltepe * Zeyne

Archaeological and historical

* Adamkayalar * Alahan Monastery * Altından geçme * Akhayat sinkhole * Aya Tekla Church * Baç Bridge * Bilal Habeşi Masjid * Canbazlı ruins * Caracalla's inscription * Cennet and Cehennem * Cleopatra's gate * Corycus * Çanakçı rock tombs * Dörtayak * Gözlükule * Kanlıdivane * Karakabaklı * Kırkkaşık Bedesten * Laal Pasha Mosque * Lamas Aqueduct * Mancınık Castle * Mamure Castle * Meydancık Castle * Mezgitkale * Mut Castle * Olba (ancient city) * Öküzlü ruins * Paşa Türbesi * Roman road in Cilicia * Saint Paul's Church, Tarsus * Silifke Castle * Sinekkale * Soli, Cilicia * Tapureli ruins * Tarsus Grand Mosque * Taşgeçit Bridge * Tekir ambarı * Üçayaklı ruins * Veyselli rock reliefs * Yanıkhan *

Yumuktepe Yumuktepe, also known as Yümüktepe, is a tell (ruin mound) within the city borders of Mersin, Turkey. In 1936, the mound was on the outskirts of Mersin, but after a rapid increase of population, the mound was surrounded by the Toroslar munic ...

Museums

* Anamur Museum * Mersin Museum * Mersin Atatürk Museum * Mersin Naval Museum * Mersin Urban History Museum * Mersin Water Museum *

Narlıkuyu Museum Narlıkuyu Mosaic Museum is a small museum in Narlıkuyu, Turkey that encompasses a Roman bath with a mosaic tile floor. The mosaic depicts the charites, Three Graces. Location Narlıkuyu is a town in Silifke ilçe (district) of Mersin Provin ...

* Silifke Museum * Silifke Atatürk Museum * Tarsus Museum

Other

* 2013 Mediterranean Games * Berdan River * Cyprus Memorial Cemetery in Silifke *

* Dana Adası * Gulf of Mersin * Karabucak Forest * Karakız Lake * List of municipalities in Mersin Province * List of populated places in Mersin Province * Mersin Congress and Exhibition Center * Mersin Grand Mosque * Mersin Harbor * Mezitli River * Muğdat Mosque * Müftü River * Tourism centers of Mersin Province * Transport in Mersin Province * Yenice Conference (''Yenice Görüşmesi'' )

Gallery

File:Mersin Yenişehir shore.JPG ,

Mediterranean sea shore File:Refah monument from the south, Mersin.JPG, Mersin
Refah monument File:Mersin lighthouse from the south.jpg, Mersin
Light house File:Mersin harbor from the west.jpg, Mersin
Harbor File:Soli ruins, Mersin.jpg , Mersin
Soli ruins File:Castle in Mamure, Anamur, Turkey from the Sea.jpg, Anamur
Mamure castle File:Aynalıgöl cave.JPG , Aydıncık
Aynalıgöl File:Kelenderis.jpg, Aydıncık
Detail from the mosaic File:Dörtayak.jpg , Aydıncık
Dörtayak File:Mezgitkale, Mersin Province, Turkey.jpg, Mezgitkale, Mersin Province File:Mut citadel in 2008 3678.jpg, Mut citadel File:Yerköprü Şelalesi.jpg, Yerköprü Şelalesi File:Kadıncık 1 HES, Çamlıyayla.jpg, Çamlıyayla
Kadıncık dam File:Berdan Çayı.jpg, Berdan river File:Kızkalesi (Maiden's castle).jpg, Erdemli
Maiden's castle File:Hasanaliler Church, Mersin Province, Turkey.jpg, Hasanaliler Church, Mersin Province. File:View from Gülek Castle.jpg, View from Gülek Castle, Mersin Province.

Notes

External links

University of Mersin

Mersin Technoscope

Mersin Chamber of Commerce and Industry (in English)

Mersin Photographic society (in English)

Mersin Free Zone
{{Authority control Provinces of Turkey