Adana 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 ...

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 ...

located in central

Cilicia Cilicia () is a geographical region in southern Anatolia, extending inland from the northeastern coasts of the Mediterranean Sea. Cilicia has a population ranging over six million, concentrated mostly at the Cilician plain (). The region inclu ...

. The administrative seat of the province is the city of

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 ...

, home to 78.25% of the residents of the province. Its area is 13,844 km², and its population is 2,274,106 (2022). It is also closely associated with other Cilician provinces of

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 ...

Osmaniye Osmaniye () is a city on the eastern edge of the Çukurova plain in southern Turkey. It is the seat of Osmaniye Province and Osmaniye District.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, ...

Geography

The southern and central portion of the province mostly falls within the Çukurova Plain (historically known as the

Cilician Plain Cilicia () is a geographical region in southern Anatolia, extending inland from the northeastern coasts of the Mediterranean Sea. Cilicia has a population ranging over six million, concentrated mostly at the Cilician plain (). The region inclu ...

); to the north, the plains give way to the

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 ...

(

Turkish Turkish may refer to: * Something related to Turkey ** Turkish language *** Turkish alphabet ** Turkish people, a Turkic ethnic group and nation *** Turkish citizen, a citizen of Turkey *** Turkish communities in the former Ottoman Empire * The w ...

: ''Toros Dağları''). The provinces adjacent to it are

to the west,

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, ...

to the southeast,

Osmaniye Osmaniye () is a city on the eastern edge of the Çukurova plain in southern Turkey. It is the seat of Osmaniye Province and Osmaniye District.Kahramanmaraş Kahramanmaraş (), historically Marash (; ) and Germanicea (), is a city in the Mediterranean Region, Turkey, Mediterranean region of Turkey and the administrative centre of Kahramanmaraş Province, Kahramanmaraş province. After 1973, Maraş was ...

to the northeast,

Kayseri Kayseri () is a large List of cities in Turkey, city in Central Anatolia, Turkey, and the capital of Kayseri Province, Kayseri province. Historically known as Caesarea (Mazaca), Caesarea, it has been the historical capital of Cappadocia since anc ...

to the north, and

Niğde Niğde (; ; Hittite: Nahita, Naxita) is a city and is located in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey. It is the seat of Niğde Province and Niğde District. Two levels of government are involved in the administration of the Adana Province: the central and the provincial. Adana Governorship is the provincial branch of the central government and Adana Province Special Administration is the provincial governing body. The province is divided into 15 districts, and each district is divided into neighbourhoods ().

Adana governorship

The central government in

Ankara Ankara is the capital city of Turkey and List of national capitals by area, the largest capital by area in the world. Located in the Central Anatolia Region, central part of Anatolia, the city has a population of 5,290,822 in its urban center ( ...

has the majority of the power in the administration of the province through Adana Governorship. The governorship oversees the functioning of provincial and regional directorates of the ministries and other governmental agencies. Provincial directorates cover Adana Province only, whereas regional directorates cover

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 ...

and in some cases additional provinces. Provincial and regional directorates of the Central Government include, but are not limited to; *Provincial directorates: Education, Healthcare, Tourism and Culture, Youth and Sports, Environment and Forestry, Social Services, Agriculture, Industry and Trade, Police Services, Defense, Population and Citizenship, Employment Agency, Social Security Institution. *Regional directorates: Turkish State Railways, Statistics Institute, Foundations, Meteorology. The Grand National Assembly (TBMM) is the only law-making authority in Turkey and Adana Province is represented in it with 14 members. The last TBMM elections were held on June 7th, 2015 and in the Adana Province, the

conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civiliza ...

AKP took 5 seats,

social-democratic Social democracy is a social, economic, and political philosophy within socialism that supports political and economic democracy and a gradualist, reformist, and democratic approach toward achieving social equality. In modern practice, socia ...

Kemalist Kemalism (, also archaically ''Kamâlizm'') or Atatürkism () is a political ideology based on the ideas of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder and first president of the Turkey, Republic of Turkey.Eric J. Zurcher, Turkey: A Modern History. Ne ...

CHP took 4 seats,

nationalist Nationalism is an idea or movement that holds that the nation should be congruent with the State (polity), state. As a movement, it presupposes the existence and tends to promote the interests of a particular nation,Anthony D. Smith, Smith, A ...

MHP took 3 seats and

Democratic socialist Democratic socialism is a left-wing economic and political philosophy that supports political democracy and some form of a socially owned economy, with a particular emphasis on economic democracy, workplace democracy, and workers' self-mana ...

HDP took 2 seats.

Province Special Administration

Adana Province Special Administration () is a semi-democratic provincial governing body that has three organs; Provincial Parliament, Governor and the Encümen. Provincial Parliament members are elected democratically, the governor is appointed by the Central Government and 4 out of 8 members of the Encümen are appointed by the governor. Province Special Administration is not a jurisdiction and has minor executive power in the administration of the province running with a budget of 55 million TL for 2010. The major executive duties of Special Administration are; building and maintenance of schools, residences and daycares, building and maintenance of other governmental buildings, roads, promoting arts and culture, protection and conservation of nature, social services and regional planning.

Provincial Parliament

Adana Provincial Parliament () is the decision making organ of the Province Special Administration. It is formed of 61 members who represent the 15 districts. Members of the Parliament are nominated by the district branches of the National Parties during the Local Elections and are elected by the

d'Hondt method The D'Hondt method, also called the Jefferson method or the greatest divisors method, is an apportionment method for allocating seats in parliaments among federal states, or in proportional representation among political parties. It belongs to ...

. Each district is an electoral district and there is a 10% threshold for a party to gain seat at the district. There is no threshold at the provincial level. Parliament is administered by the president, two vice-presidents, and two secretaries general who are elected from the members. The current chair of the parliament is Abdullah Torun. Adana location districts

Current composition of the Parliament The last election for the Provincial Parliament was held on March 29, 2009. Voting turnout was a high of 84.1% and 5 parties gained seat at the parliament. The results of the election were After the election the sole DP member moved to MHP raising the seats of MHP to 24. Currently, DP does not hold a seat at the parliament.

Governorship

Governor

Provincial governor () is the chief executive of the Adana Province. Besides chairing the , the governor also acts as the chief of the Provincial Directorates of the Central Government. The governor is appointed by the advice of the National Ministry of Internal Affairs to the Cabinet with the approval of the president of the republic. Yavuz Selim Köşger has been governor of the province since 2023. District governors () are the chief executives of their districts. Districts are merely an administrative divisions of the province and the district governors work under the provincial governor.

Historic list of governors of Adana

Encümen

Encümen is the executive committee of the Adana Province Special Administration, consisting of 11 members. The governor is the chair of the Encümen. 5 members are chosen by the Provincial Parliament among their members annually and 5 members are the departmental directors of the APSA appointed by the governor annually.

Municipalities

There are total of 15 municipalities in the Adana Province, which are coterminous with the 15 districts. Municipal councillors of the metropolitan municipality are chosen from the district municipal councillors by the respective municipal councils. The municipalities have three organs; municipal council, mayor and the encümen, the executive committee. Municipal councillors and the mayors are elected at the local elections. Encümen is formed by members half chosen from the council and the other half appointed by the mayor.

Neighborhoods

Mahala is an Arabic word variously translated as district, quarter, ward, or neighborhood in many parts of the Arab world, the Balkans, Western Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and nearby nations. History Historically, mahallas were autonomous social ins ...

() is the smallest administrative unit within a municipality, administered by the

Muhtar Muhtar also spelled "Mihtar" or "Mitar" is a given name and a surname. Notable persons with that name include: Persons with the given name * Muhtar Kent (born 1952), Turkish American businessman * Ahmet Muhtar Merter (died 1959), Turkish freedom ...

and the Neighborhood Seniors Council () consisting of 4 members. Mahala administration is not an incorporation therefore does not hold government status. Although elected by the neighborhood residents, Muhtars are not granted any power nor budget, thus merely act as an administrator of the district Governor. Muhtar also voices the neighborhood issues to the municipal governments together with the Seniors Council. The Muhtar and the council members are elected by plurality at the local elections. Neighborhood administrators are not affiliated with political parties.

Population

The population of the Adana Province as at 31 December 2022 was 2,274,106. 88% of the population lives in the urban areas making the province one of the most urbanized provinces in Turkey. Annual population growth of the province is 0.76%, below the average growth of the nation. 78.25 % of the province's residents (corresponding to a population of 1,779,463) live in the city of Adana, which is made up of the whole of Seyhan District and most of Yüreğir, Çukurova and Sarıçam districts.

Museums and heritage sites

Adana Province has 160 km. of coastline mostly free from human activities. Karataş and Yumurtalık are the two small settlements at the coast which host cottage dwellers and local tourism. Rest of the coast has conservation areas, farmlands and forests. With the ancient settlements, national parks, waterfalls, highlands and mountains, Adana Province has a mixture of different settings.

Museums

* Adana Archeological Museum in the city of Adana * Adana Ethnography Museum * Adana Atatürk Museum * Misis Mosaic Museum

Historical sites

* Toprakkale (Misis) *Dumlu Castle (Ceyhan) * Yilankale (Snake Castle) *Historical neighborhood of

Tepebağ Tepebağ () is a neighbourhood (''mahalle'') in the municipality and district of Seyhan, Adana Province, Turkey. Its population is 903 (2022). It is a historical neighborhood in the old town of Adana. It is situated on a hill overlooking the Seyha ...

(Adana) *

Ramazanoğlu Hall Ramazanoğlu Hall is the old government residence of the Ramadanids located in Adana. Currently used as a cultural center, it is one of the oldest examples of a mansion in Turkey. Located southeast of the Ulu Camii, it was the Harem of the Ramada ...

(Adana) * Kurtkulağı Caravanserai in Ceyhan *Hayriye Hanım Hall in Reşatbey neighborhood of Adana *Çarşı Hamam (Adana) *

Büyük Saat Büyük Saat () is a historical clock tower in Adana, rising high. The tower symbolizes the modernization of the city, which lasted from 1863 to the Adana massacre. During this period many Ottoman and European businesses, moved to the city for ...

Clock Tower and the

Bedesten A bedesten (variants: bezistan, bezisten, bedestan) is a type of covered market or market hall which was historically found in the cities of the Ottoman Empire. It was typically the central building of the commercial district of an Ottoman town o ...

(bazaar) in the city of Adana * Taşköprü: 4th century Roman Bridge in the city of Adana * Kozan Castle and Monastery * Ulucamii in the city of Adana *Hasan Ağa Masjid (Adana) * Yağ Camii in the city of Adana * Saint Paul Church (Bebekli Kilise) in the city of Adana *

Süleyman's Tower Süleyman's Tower (also called "armed Ayas tower") is a historical building in Yumurtalık district of Adana Province, Turkey. The tower is situated at the Mediterranean Sea side to the west of Yumurtalık. At the distance to Yumurtalık district ...

(Yumurtalık)

Ancient settlements

Parks and conservation areas

Akyatan Lagoon Akyatan Lagoon is a 14700-hectare wetland ecosystem that is designated as List of Ramsar wetlands of international importance, Wetland of International Importance by Ramsar Convention. A major stopover for migrating birds, Akyatan is recognized a ...

is a large wildlife refuge which acts as a stopover for migratory birds voyaging from Africa to Europe. Wildlife refuge has a 14700-hectare area made up of forests, lagoon, marsh, sandy and reedy lands. Akyatan lake is a nature wonder with endemic plants and endangered bird species living in it together with other species of plants and animals. 250 species of birds are observed during a study in 1990. The conservation area is located 30 km south of

, near Tuzla. Yumurtalık Nature Reserve covers an area of 16,430 hectares within the Seyhan-Ceyhan delta, with its lakes, lagoons and wide collection of plant and animal species. The area is an important location for many species of migrating birds, the number gets higher during the winters when the lakes become a shelter when other lakes further north freeze. Aladağlar National Park, located north of

, is a huge park of around 55,000 hectares, the summit of Demirkazik at 3756m is the highest point in the middle Taurus mountain range. There is a huge range of flora and fauna, and visitors may fish in the streams full of trout. Wildlife includes wild goats, bears, lynx and sable. The most common species of plant life is black pine and cluster pine trees, with some cedar dotted between, and fir trees in the northern areas with higher humidity. The Alpine region, from the upper borders of the forest, has pastures with rocky areas and little variety of plant life because of the high altitude and slope.

Mountains and plateaus

The Taurus Mountains contain many plateaus: * Aladağ Meydan Plateau * Aladağ Ağcakise, Başpınar Bıcı ve Kosurga Plateaus *

Feke Feke () is a municipality and district of Adana Province, Turkey. Its area is 1,218 km2, and its population is 15,833 (2022). It is 122 km from the city of Adana, 620 m above sea-level, a small town on attractive forested mountain ...

İnderesi Village Plateaus *

Karaisalı Karaisalı is a district of Adana Province, Turkey. Its area is 1,165 km2, and its population is 22,042 (2022). The area contains the reservoirs of Çatalan and Nergizlik. There is a wrestling tournament in late-April to early-May at Salba� ...

Kızıldağ Plateau * Karaisalı

Kapıkaya Canyon Kapıkaya Canyon is a canyon located in Adana Province, southern Turkey. Geography The canyon is the valley of the Çakıt Creek one of the main tributaries of Seyhan River. Its course is from north to south and the birds flight distance between ...

* Kozan-Horzum and Çulluuşağı Plateaus * Kozan Göller Plateau * Pozantı-

Akçatekir Akçatekir is a neighbourhood of the municipality and district of Pozantı, Adana Province, Turkey. Its population is 1,622 (2022). Before the 2013 reorganisation, it was a town (''belde''). Geography Akçatekir is from Pozantı and from Adan ...

Plateau * Pozantı-Armutoluğu Plateau * Pozantı Fındıklı Village Plateau *

Pozantı Pozantı (, formerly ) is a municipality and district of Adana Province, Turkey. Its area is 899 km2, and its population is 19,852 (2022). The town is in the highlands of Çukurova, and is a major gateway to the Mediterranean coasts. Pozant ...

Belemedik Belemedik is a neighbourhood in the municipality and district of Pozantı, Adana Province, Turkey. Its population is 77 (2022). It was one of the important settlements on Toros Mountains during the early years of the 20th century and especially the ...

Plateau * Pozantı Asar Plateau *

Saimbeyli Saimbeyli, historically known as Hadjin (), is a town and district of Adana Province in present-day Turkey. Its area is 989 km2, and its population is 13,621 (2022). The town is located at the Taurus mountains of Cilicia region, 157 km north o ...

Çatak Plateau *

Tufanbeyli Tufanbeyli is municipality and district of Adana Province, Turkey. Its area is 851 km2, and its population is 16,400 (2022). It is 196 km north-east of the city of Adana, on an uneven, sloping plateau high in the Tahtalı range of the Tau ...

Kürebeli Plateau *

Obruk Plateau

Festivals

Altın Koza International Film Festival Adana Golden Boll Film Festival (), known between 2016 and 2018 as International Adana Film Festival (), is a film festival in Adana, Turkey, that was held five times between 1969 and 1974 and every year since 2005. The event is organized by the ...

(07-13 June) * International Sabancı Theater Festival (March 27- April 30) *

İmamoğlu Peach Festival İmamoğlu is a municipality and Districts of Turkey, district of Adana Province, Turkey. Its area is 445 km2, and its population is 27,037 (2022). It is an agricultural community on a small plain in the hills between the cities of Adana and ...

- İmamoğlu (June) * Kızıldağ Karakucak Wrestling Festival - Karaisalı * Cherry Festival - Saimbeyli (20–22 June)

Gallery

Sabancı_Cami.JPG, Sabanci Mosque, Image:Yumurtalık Deniz (Kız) Castle.jpg, Deniz (Kız) Castle in Yumurtalık Atatürk_Museum_3_(33592688243).jpg, Historic houses in Adana