Location of Ardahan province in Turkey
Ardahan (in English also known as Erdehan) is the capital city of Ardahan province (established in 1992) in northeastern Turkey. It is located on a high mountain plateau about 1959 meters above sea level. The majority of the population lives in the countryside and the main economic activity in the region is agriculture and animal breeding. Carpet-making and Kilim-weaving play an important role in the life of the young local girls. There are many small rivers and lakes around this area. Cildir Lake is the second-biggest lake in the region and the people living around the lake earn their livelihood by fishing.
Standing on a very high flatland, it is a perfect place for marathon runners to exercise. It is a lovely place with beautiful surroundings, historical spots and friendly local people. The region has a very rich history of the civilizations which dates back far in anquity. The oldest written document, a stone inscription from Urartus, has been explored at Cildir Lake. Cimmerians settled in the region around 8th century BC. The town was captured by the Seljuk Turks in 1069 AD by the Sultan Alpaslan, and then in 1551 by the Ottoman Empire. Remnants of Ardahan's history can be encountered everywhere. The most important monument of the city is the Ardahan Fortress that was built by the Selcuks (Seljuks) and later on utilized by the Ottoman Empire. The other important castles in the city are Kazan, Altas, Kinzi, Kalecik, Seytan Kurt, Sevimli, Cak, Savasir, Mere, Kol, Kirnak, Ölçev, Dedesen, Karakale, Kislahanak, and Hanak.
There is small skiing track which can be skied for about 6 months of the year because of climate conditions in the area. Besides that many festivals are organized in the province such as the Honey Festival, the Yellow Cheese Festival (Kashkaval Cheese), and the Cildir Lake Festival.
Categories: Cities in Turkey
Source: en.wikipedia.org