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Samsun
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Samsun is a city in northern Turkey, on the coast of the Black Sea, with a population of 725,111 as of 2007. It is the capital city of Samsun Province and an important port. Samsun was founded as the colony Amisos (alternative spelling Amisus, Eis Amison - meaning to amisos took the name Samsunta or Samsus (Eis Amison - Samson - Samsounta) as in Greek + ounta "Greek toponomical suffix".
) by settlers from Miletus in the 7th century BC.
un's ideal combination of fertile ground and shallow waters has attracted numerous trade interests.
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Encyclopedia
Samsun is a city in northern Turkey, on the coast of the Black Sea, with a population of 725,111 as of 2007. It is the capital city of Samsun Province and an important port. Samsun was founded as the colony Amisos (alternative spelling Amisus, Eis Amison - meaning to amisos took the name Samsunta or Samsus (Eis Amison - Samson - Samsounta) as in Greek + ounta "Greek toponomical suffix".
) by settlers from Miletus in the 7th century BC.
History
Samsun's ideal combination of fertile ground and shallow waters has attracted numerous trade interests. Greek colonists settled in the 6th century BC and established a flourishing trade relationship with the Anatolians. At that time, Samsun was part of the Greek colony of Amisus. In the 3rd century BC, Samsun came under the expanded rule of the Kingdom of Pontus. The Kingdom of Pontus had been part of the empire of Alexander the Great. However, the empire was fractured soon after Alexander's death in the 4th century BC. At its height, the kingdom controlled the north of central Anatolia and mercantile towns on the northern Black Sea shores.
The Romans took over in 47 BC, and were replaced by the Byzantines after the fall of Rome. In 1200 Samsun was captured by the Seljuks, to be later taken over by the Ilhanlilar. Samsun was incorporated into the network of Genoese trading posts and was taken by the Ottomans in the beginning of the 15th century. Before leaving, the Genoese razed the town.
Atatürk founded the Turkish republic movement at Samsun and it served as its base during the Turkish War of Independence.
The city is a Roman Catholic titular see.
Geography
Samsun is situated between two river deltas which jut into the Black Sea. It is located at the end of an ancient route from Cappadocia: the Amisos of antiquity lay on the headland northwest of the modern city. To Samsun's west, lies the Kizilirmak ("Red River", the Halys of antiquity), one of the longest rivers in Anatolia and its fertile delta. To the east, lie the Yesilirmak ("Green River", the Iris of antiquity) and its delta.
Rivers
Terme river, Yesilirmak, Aptal river, Mert river, Kürtün river, Kizilirmak
Lakes
Akgöl, Dumanli, Semenlik
Sites
Archaeological Sites: 41
Urban Sites: 4
Natural Sites: 7
Historical Sites: 1
Other Sites
Archaeological and Natural Sites: 3
Total: 56
Cultural (at Single Construction Scale) and Natural Heritages: 369
TOTAL: 424
How to Get
Highway: coach station is at city center.
Coach station Tel: (+90-362) 238 17 06
Railway: Samsun - Sivas and Samsun - Amasya railway connections are available. Train station is placed at the city center.
Train station Tel : (+90-362) 233 22 93
Maritime lines: Ferry boat voyages to Samsun are arranged in June - Augustus months. The port is in the city center.
Port Tel : (+90-362) 445 16 05
Airway: Samsun airport is 19 km away from the city center. It is possible to reach airport by service busses departure from in front of THY office in city center.
Airport Tel : (+90-362) 844 88 30 - 844 88 24 - 844 88 25
Samsun Guide - Samsun, Turkey
Climate
Samsun has a humid, temperate, marine climate with cool winters and warm summers and high rainfall throughout the year. Samsun also has a Humid Subtropical Climate.
Economy
Samsun is an important Turkish trade centre and the most important port on the Black Sea coast.
Samsun is one of the major Turkish tobacco producing provinces.
In the later Ottoman period the land around the town mainly produced tobacco. The town was connected to the railway system in the second half of the 19th century, and tobacco trade boomed. The Çarsamba Plain and the Bafra Plain offer possibilities for farming.
A concern of automotive industries is located in Samsun.
Education
The University of Samsun (19 Mayis Üniversitesi) is one of the seven best universities of Turkey.
Moreover the city has colleges, 58 grammar schools, 1.048 primary schools, and public libraries.
Places to see
- Kultur Sarayi (Palace of Culture). Concerts and other performances are held at the Kultur Sarayi, which is shaped much like a ski jump.
- Archaeological and Atatürk Museum. The archaeological part of the museum displays ancient artifacts found in the Samsun area. The Atatürk section includes photographs of his life and some personal belongings. The museum is open from 8:30 till 12:00 and from 14:00 till 17:00.
- The Russian Market (Rus Pazari).
- Statue of Atatürk. By Austrian sculptor Heinz Kriphel, from 1928 to 1931.
- Atatürk (Gazi) Museum. It houses Atatürk's bedroom, his study and conference room as well some personal belongings.
- Pazar Mosque, Samsun's oldest surviving building, a mosque built by the Ilhanid Mongols in the 13th century.
- Karadag Geçidi (Karadag Pass) (at an altitude of 940 metres). The landscape, on the way to Amasya.
Sister cities
Novorossiysk, Russia
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Neumünster, Germany
Kalmar, Sweden
Sükhbaatar, Mongolia
Notable natives
See also
External links
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