Balikesir Province
Encyclopedia
Balıkesir Province is a province in midwestern Turkey
, having coastlines on both the Sea of Marmara
and the Aegean
. Its adjacent provinces are Çanakkale
to the west, İzmir
to the southwest, Manisa
to the south, Kütahya
to the southeast, and Bursa
to the east. The provincial capital is Balıkesir
City. Most of the province lies in the Marmara Region except the southern parts of Bigadiç Edremit, Kepsut, İvrindi, Savaştepe and Sındırgı districts and ones of Ayvalık, Burhaniye, Dursunbey, Gömeç and Havran, that bound the Aegean Region.
Kaz Dağı , known also as Mount Ida, is located in this province.
Balıkesir province is famous for its olive
s, thermal spas
, and clean beaches, making it an important tourist destination. The province also hosts immense deposits of kaolinite
and borax
, with some open-pit mines
. The Kaz mountains are also threatened with the expansion of gold mining using cyanide which puts the villagers' lives, the agricultural economy, and tourism at risk.
(bird sanctuary) National Park; the bays of Erdek, Bandırma, and Edremit; Ayvalık's coastal beaches; Şeytan Sofrası, Marmara Islands, Alibey (Cunda) Island; the Erdek and Gönen open-air museums; Pamukçu-Bengi, Balya Dağ, Hisar, Hisarköy (Asarköy), Karağaç (Uyuz), Kepekler hot springs, Dutluca Village mineral springs, and Zeytinli Ada hot springs and mineral water springs.
Among the cultural attractions of Balıkesir are the ruins of Cyzicus
and Saraylar on the Sea of Marmara, Deasklaion (near Bandırma/Ereğli), and Antandrus
(near Edremit/Altınoluk); Balıkesir's Yıldırım Mosque (Eski Cami), the Zağanos Pasha mosque complex, Clocked Church Mosque and quantity of Ottoman vernacular architecture at Ayvalık, and Alibey Mosque (Çınarlı Cami).
There are also a city museum and a fine arts centre in Balıkesir. Also, There are a number of camping facilities in Erdek, Altınoluk, Akçay
, Güre and Ören.
BAU has aimed to be an educational institution of the 21st century and has taken special care to direct its experience from the past towards this objective. Other guiding objectives of BAU are to bring up democratic, secular, independent, young citizens, loyal to Atatürk’s principles and revolutions and the basic principles of the Republic, respectful not only to their country and culture but also to universal values as well. BAU forms an environment to produce information and knowledge to be benefited by the country and the world, to share it with both the society and the science world for the wealth and well-being of humanity. BAU is well aware of its responsibilities for both Turkish Higher Education and science world. It fulfills the requirements of a modern institution of education with 25 000 students, 650 members of academic staff.
BAU is also aware that it is not only enough for a modern university to provide education of high quality but also to produce science and technology. The students are encouraged to participate in social, cultural and sports activities. The administration and academic personnel of the university support and direct a variety of extracurricular activities.
BAU aims at meeting academic and research needs of students, academic and administrative staff and of the society to enhance scientific productivity with modern libraries, increasing the number and quality of undergraduate programs and scientific studies.
The units listed below are all located on the main Çağış Campus, which lies on the outskirts of the city. Buses and minibuses provide regular services to Çağış Campus from the city center between the hours 07:00 and 23:00.
Rectorate building, with administrative departments
Faculty of Engineering and Architecture
Faculty of Sciences and Arts
School of Tourism and Hotel Management
Balıkesir Vocational School
Central Library
Main Sports Hall
Graduate School of Science
Graduate School of Social Sciences
NEF Campus
NEF Campus, located in the center of the town, was the original site of the university. The units listed below are all located on this campus:
Faculty of Education,
School of Physical Education and Sports Teaching.
NEF Conference Hall,
Halil İnalcık Conference Hall
Sports Hall
University Fitness Center
Outdoor sports facilities
Continuing Education Center (BAUSEM)
(capital district in bold):
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, having coastlines on both the Sea of Marmara
Sea of Marmara
The Sea of Marmara , also known as the Sea of Marmora or the Marmara Sea, and in the context of classical antiquity as the Propontis , is the inland sea that connects the Black Sea to the Aegean Sea, thus separating Turkey's Asian and European parts. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Black...
and the Aegean
Aegean Sea
The Aegean Sea[p] is an elongated embayment of the Mediterranean Sea located between the southern Balkan and Anatolian peninsulas, i.e., between the mainlands of Greece and Turkey. In the north, it is connected to the Marmara Sea and Black Sea by the Dardanelles and Bosporus...
. Its adjacent provinces are Çanakkale
Çanakkale Province
Çanakkale Province is a province of Turkey, located in the northwestern part of the country. It takes its name from the town of Çanakkale.Like Istanbul, Çanakkale province has a European and an Asian part. The European part is formed by the Gallipoli peninsula, while the Asian part is largely...
to the west, İzmir
Izmir Province
İzmir Province is a province of Turkey in western Anatolia on the Aegean coast, whose capital is the city of İzmir. On the west it is surrounded by the Aegean sea, and it encloses the Gulf of İzmir. Its area is 11,973 km.2, population 3.948.848 . The population was 3,370,866 in 2000...
to the southwest, Manisa
Manisa Province
Manisa Province is a province in western Turkey. Its neighboring provinces are İzmir to the west, Aydın to the south, Denizli to the south east, Uşak to the east, Kütahya to the north east, and Balıkesir to the north...
to the south, Kütahya
Kütahya Province
Kütahya Province is a province in the Aegean region of Turkey. It is 11,889 km² in size, and the population is 590,496 . In 1990, Kütahya had a population of 578,020.-Districts:...
to the southeast, and Bursa
Bursa Province
Bursa Province is a province in western Turkey, along the Sea of Marmara. Its adjacent provinces are Balıkesir to the west, Kütahya to the south, Bilecik and Sakarya to the east, Kocaeli to the northeast and Yalova to the north. The province has an area of 11,043 km2 and a population of 3,187,000...
to the east. The provincial capital is Balıkesir
Balikesir
Balıkesir is the capital city of Balıkesir Province. Balıkesir is in the Marmara region of Turkey and has a population of 265,747 inhabitants. Old name is Karesi or Karasi.- History :...
City. Most of the province lies in the Marmara Region except the southern parts of Bigadiç Edremit, Kepsut, İvrindi, Savaştepe and Sındırgı districts and ones of Ayvalık, Burhaniye, Dursunbey, Gömeç and Havran, that bound the Aegean Region.
Kaz Dağı , known also as Mount Ida, is located in this province.
Balıkesir province is famous for its olive
Olive
The olive , Olea europaea), is a species of a small tree in the family Oleaceae, native to the coastal areas of the eastern Mediterranean Basin as well as northern Iran at the south end of the Caspian Sea.Its fruit, also called the olive, is of major agricultural importance in the...
s, thermal spas
Hot spring
A hot spring is a spring that is produced by the emergence of geothermally heated groundwater from the Earth's crust. There are geothermal hot springs in many locations all over the crust of the earth.-Definitions:...
, and clean beaches, making it an important tourist destination. The province also hosts immense deposits of kaolinite
Kaolinite
Kaolinite is a clay mineral, part of the group of industrial minerals, with the chemical composition Al2Si2O54. It is a layered silicate mineral, with one tetrahedral sheet linked through oxygen atoms to one octahedral sheet of alumina octahedra...
and borax
Borax
Borax, also known as sodium borate, sodium tetraborate, or disodium tetraborate, is an important boron compound, a mineral, and a salt of boric acid. It is usually a white powder consisting of soft colorless crystals that dissolve easily in water.Borax has a wide variety of uses...
, with some open-pit mines
Quarry
A quarry is a type of open-pit mine from which rock or minerals are extracted. Quarries are generally used for extracting building materials, such as dimension stone, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, and gravel. They are often collocated with concrete and asphalt plants due to the requirement...
. The Kaz mountains are also threatened with the expansion of gold mining using cyanide which puts the villagers' lives, the agricultural economy, and tourism at risk.
Sites of interest
Balıkesir is home to a number of natural attractions, including Kuş CennetiLake Kus
Lake Kuş or Lake Manyas is a lake in western Turkey, located in the Bandırma region. This is a shallow nutrient-rich freshwater lake fed by groundwater and four streams. Small deltas have formed where the latter enter the lake, comprising extensive marshes and tree-lined riverbanks. Narrow belts...
(bird sanctuary) National Park; the bays of Erdek, Bandırma, and Edremit; Ayvalık's coastal beaches; Şeytan Sofrası, Marmara Islands, Alibey (Cunda) Island; the Erdek and Gönen open-air museums; Pamukçu-Bengi, Balya Dağ, Hisar, Hisarköy (Asarköy), Karağaç (Uyuz), Kepekler hot springs, Dutluca Village mineral springs, and Zeytinli Ada hot springs and mineral water springs.
Among the cultural attractions of Balıkesir are the ruins of Cyzicus
Cyzicus
Cyzicus was an ancient town of Mysia in Anatolia in the current Balıkesir Province of Turkey. It was located on the shoreward side of the present Kapıdağ Peninsula , a tombolo which is said to have originally been an island in the Sea of Marmara only to be connected to the mainland in historic...
and Saraylar on the Sea of Marmara, Deasklaion (near Bandırma/Ereğli), and Antandrus
Antandrus
Antandrus was a Greek city on the north side of the Gulf of Adramyttium in the Troad region of Anatolia. Its surrounding territory was known in Greek as , and included the towns of Asponeus on the coast and Astyra to the east...
(near Edremit/Altınoluk); Balıkesir's Yıldırım Mosque (Eski Cami), the Zağanos Pasha mosque complex, Clocked Church Mosque and quantity of Ottoman vernacular architecture at Ayvalık, and Alibey Mosque (Çınarlı Cami).
There are also a city museum and a fine arts centre in Balıkesir. Also, There are a number of camping facilities in Erdek, Altınoluk, Akçay
Akçay
Akçay is a municipality in the Edremit district of Balıkesir Province in western Turkey. It is located in the Edremit Bay at the coast of north-eastern Aegean Sea, across the Greek island Mitilini....
, Güre and Ören.
Museums and ancient sites
- Balıkesir Kuvayi Milliye Museum
- Bandırma Archaeological Museum
- Edremit Ayşe Sıdıka Erke Ethnography Museum
- Balıkesir National Photography Museum
- Edremit Tahtakuşlar Ethnography Museum
- Gönen Mosaic Museum
- Balıkesir Municipality's Devrim Erbil Modern Arts Museum
- Bigadiç Museum House
- Marmara District Palaces Open Air Museum
- Altınoluk Antardos Open Air Museum
- Erdek Belkıs Ruins Open Air Museum
- Daskyleon ruins
- Prokonnessos ruins
- Adyramytteon ruins
- Yortan ruins
National parks
- Erdek Kapıdağ region
- Kaz Dağı national park
- Kuş Cenneti national park
- Alaçam mountains
- Ayvalık IslandsAyvalik IslandsAyvalık Islands are the group of islands around Ayvalık district of Turkey in Balıkesir Province in the Northeastern Aegean Sea. There are 22 islands and numerous rocks in the group, with Cunda Island, now a peninsula, being the largest. People live only on Cunda and Lale Islands. Cunda and Lale...
natural park - Madra mountains
Balıkesir University
Celebrating its 18th anniversary in 2010, the young Balıkesir University (BAU) has been increasing its supports to the higher education of the province from the past to the future. It has already been determined to meet the new age, the Age of Information, with 5 Faculties, 4 Applied Schools, 11 Vocational Schools giving vocational training for 2 years, 2 Graduate Schools, 2 Research Institutes and 9 Research Centers presenting modern academic services with dynamic, productive academic and administrative staff appropriate to the age.BAU has aimed to be an educational institution of the 21st century and has taken special care to direct its experience from the past towards this objective. Other guiding objectives of BAU are to bring up democratic, secular, independent, young citizens, loyal to Atatürk’s principles and revolutions and the basic principles of the Republic, respectful not only to their country and culture but also to universal values as well. BAU forms an environment to produce information and knowledge to be benefited by the country and the world, to share it with both the society and the science world for the wealth and well-being of humanity. BAU is well aware of its responsibilities for both Turkish Higher Education and science world. It fulfills the requirements of a modern institution of education with 25 000 students, 650 members of academic staff.
BAU is also aware that it is not only enough for a modern university to provide education of high quality but also to produce science and technology. The students are encouraged to participate in social, cultural and sports activities. The administration and academic personnel of the university support and direct a variety of extracurricular activities.
BAU aims at meeting academic and research needs of students, academic and administrative staff and of the society to enhance scientific productivity with modern libraries, increasing the number and quality of undergraduate programs and scientific studies.
Campuses
Çağış CampusThe units listed below are all located on the main Çağış Campus, which lies on the outskirts of the city. Buses and minibuses provide regular services to Çağış Campus from the city center between the hours 07:00 and 23:00.
Rectorate building, with administrative departments
Faculty of Engineering and Architecture
Faculty of Sciences and Arts
School of Tourism and Hotel Management
Balıkesir Vocational School
Central Library
Main Sports Hall
Graduate School of Science
Graduate School of Social Sciences
NEF Campus
NEF Campus, located in the center of the town, was the original site of the university. The units listed below are all located on this campus:
Faculty of Education,
School of Physical Education and Sports Teaching.
NEF Conference Hall,
Halil İnalcık Conference Hall
Sports Hall
University Fitness Center
Outdoor sports facilities
Continuing Education Center (BAUSEM)
Districts
Balıkesir province is divided into 19 districtsDistricts of Turkey
The 81 provinces of Turkey are divided into 957 districts . In the early Turkish Republic and in the Ottoman Empire, the corresponding unit was the kaza....
(capital district in bold):
|
Edremit, Balikesir Edremit is a district in Balıkesir Province, Turkey, as well as the central city of that district, on the west coast of Turkey, not far from the Greek island Lesbos... Erdek Erdek is a town and district of Balıkesir Province in the Marmara region of Turkey. The population is 20,693 .Located on the north coast of Gulf of Erdek at the south of the Sea of Marmara, Erdek is known as a friendly holiday destination that is popular among domestic tourists... Gömeç Gömeç is a town and district of Balıkesir Province in the Marmara region of Turkey. Its former name was Armutova before becoming a district. The ancient city Kisthene is located in Gömeç. The population is 4988 . The mayor is Naim Kocabıyık .... Gönen Gönen is a district of Balıkesir Province of Turkey, located in the southern part of Marmara Sea. The town is mostly known for its therapeutic hot springs, leather processing and rice production. The mayor is Hüseyin Yakar .-Location:... Ivrindi İvrindi is a town and district of Balıkesir Province in the Marmara region of Turkey. The population is 6368 . The mayor is Recai Baytar .... |
Kepsut Kepsut is a town and district of Balıkesir Province in the Marmara region of Turkey. The population is . The mayor is İsmail Cankul .-External links:*... Manyas Manyas is a town and district of Balıkesir Province in the Marmara region of Turkey. The population is 6501 . The mayor is Hasan Kahraman .-Pictures from Manyas Birds' Heaven:... Marmara, Balikesir Marmara is an island district of Balıkesir Province, Turkey. It comprises Marmara, Avşa and Paşalimanı islands along with the neighbouring smaller islands. The population is 2425 . The mayor is Ali Aksu .... Savastepe Savaştepe is a town and district of Balıkesir Province in the Marmara region of Turkey. The population is 9352 . The mayor is Turgay Yüksel .-External links:* *... Sindirgi Sındırgı, formerly Koruköy, is a town and district of Balıkesir Province in the Marmara region of Turkey. The population is 12,673 . The mayor is Özgür Ertuğrul .-External links:*... Susurluk Susurluk is a small town and a district of Balıkesir Province in northwestern Turkey. It is famous for its production soap and dairy products.İstanbul-İzmir road passes through Susurluk. Susurluk is known for its toasted sandwich with tomato paste and its bubbly ayran. The population is 23,995... |
Transportation
Balıkesir is easily accessible on Turkey's most travelled road, linking the metropolises of İstanbul and İzmir.Notable natives
- Hülya AvşarHülya AvsarHülya Avşar is a Turkish actress, talk show host, and pop folk singer. Her father is Kurdish and her mother is Turkish.-Career:...
- Actress, singer, producer from AyvalıkAyvalikAyvalık is a seaside town on the northwestern Aegean coast of Turkey. It is a district of the Balıkesir Province.It was alternatively called by the town's formerly indigenous Greek population, although the use of the name Ayvalık was widespread for centuries among both the Turks and the Greeks... - Fikret HakanFikret HakanFikret Hakan is a prolific Turkish film actor and a recipient of the honorary State Artist, a prestigious title awarded by the Turkish government....
- Actor from BalıkesirBalikesirBalıkesir is the capital city of Balıkesir Province. Balıkesir is in the Marmara region of Turkey and has a population of 265,747 inhabitants. Old name is Karesi or Karasi.- History :... - Imam BirgiviImam BirgiviImam Birgivi was a Muslim scholar and moralist who lived during the height of the Ottoman Empire and whose texts are used to this day as manuals of spiritual practice throughout the Muslim world.-Biography:...
- Muslim scholar from BalıkesirBalikesirBalıkesir is the capital city of Balıkesir Province. Balıkesir is in the Marmara region of Turkey and has a population of 265,747 inhabitants. Old name is Karesi or Karasi.- History :... - Zağanos PashaZaganos PashaZaganos Pasha or Zagan Pasha was a military leader, Kapudan Pasha and Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire during the reign of Sultan Mehmed II.- Life :...
- Ottoman military commander from BalıkesirBalikesirBalıkesir is the capital city of Balıkesir Province. Balıkesir is in the Marmara region of Turkey and has a population of 265,747 inhabitants. Old name is Karesi or Karasi.- History :... - Ömer SeyfettinÖmer SeyfettinÖmer Seyfettin, also Omer Seyfeddin, was a Turkish nationalist writer from late 19th to early 20th century, considered to be one of the greatest modern Turkish authors...
- Renowned writer from GönenGönenGönen is a district of Balıkesir Province of Turkey, located in the southern part of Marmara Sea. The town is mostly known for its therapeutic hot springs, leather processing and rice production. The mayor is Hüseyin Yakar .-Location:... - Mehmet ÇobanMehmet ÇobanMehmet Çoban , aka Koç Çoban Mehmet, was a Turkish Olympian wrestler in the heavyweight division of Greco-Roman style.He was born 1905 in Balıkesir, Ottoman Empire...
- Olympian Greco-Roman wrestler from BalıkesirBalikesirBalıkesir is the capital city of Balıkesir Province. Balıkesir is in the Marmara region of Turkey and has a population of 265,747 inhabitants. Old name is Karesi or Karasi.- History :... - Kurtdereli Mehmet PehlivanKurtdereli Mehmet PehlivanKurtdereli Mehmet Pehlivan was a wrestler. He lived most of his life in the village of Kurtdere, 40 km from Balıkesir....
- World famous oilwrestler from BalıkesirBalikesirBalıkesir is the capital city of Balıkesir Province. Balıkesir is in the Marmara region of Turkey and has a population of 265,747 inhabitants. Old name is Karesi or Karasi.- History :... - Olcan AdınOlcan AdinOlcan Adın is a footballer. He played for Fenerbahçe, before transferring to Gaziantepspor in the 2008–2009 season for three years.He weighs 66 kilograms....
- GaziantepsporGaziantepsporGaziantepspor is a professional Turkish football club located in the city of Gaziantep. Formed in 1969, Gaziantepspor are nicknamed the Şahinler . The club colours are black and red, and they play their home matches at Kamil Ocak Stadyumu....
soccer player from BalıkesirBalikesirBalıkesir is the capital city of Balıkesir Province. Balıkesir is in the Marmara region of Turkey and has a population of 265,747 inhabitants. Old name is Karesi or Karasi.- History :... - Caner ErkinCaner ErkinCaner Erkin is a Turkish footballer currently playing at Fenerbahçe. He previously played at Russian side CSKA Moscow and Fenerbahçe's rival Galatasaray. He plays as a left winger.-Manisaspor:...
- Galatasaray SKGalatasaray S.K. (football team)Galatasaray Anonim Şirketi is a Turkish football club, part of the Galatasaray S.K. multi-sport club of Istanbul. Galatasaray is a major sports club in Turkey, holding 17 Turkish Super League titles and the highest number of Turkish Cups....
soccer player from EdremitEdremitEdremit may refer to:* Edremit , Balıkesir, Turkey* Edremit , Van, Turkey* Edremit, Turkish name for Trimithi, Northern Cyprus... - Egemen KorkmazEgemen KorkmazEgemen Korkmaz is a Turkish footballer who plays for Beşiktaş....
- TrabzonsporTrabzonsporTrabzonspor is a professional Turkish football club located in the city of Trabzon, Turkey. Formed in 1967 through a merger of several local clubs, Trabzonspor won six championships in Turkish Super League. The Club won their first Championship title in 1975 which is also the Club's initiation year...
soccer player from BalıkesirBalikesirBalıkesir is the capital city of Balıkesir Province. Balıkesir is in the Marmara region of Turkey and has a population of 265,747 inhabitants. Old name is Karesi or Karasi.- History :... - Oğuz SavaşOguz SavasOğuz Savaş is a professional basketball player of Fenerbahçe Ülker. He is 2.11 m tall and 130 kg in weight and wears number 21 for Fenerbahçe Ülker...
- Fenerbahçe ÜlkerFenerbahçe ÜlkerFenerbahçe Ülker is the professional men's basketball department of Fenerbahçe S.K., a major multisport club based in Istanbul, Turkey. The department has been sponsored by the Ülker since 2006. In 2006 Fenerbahçe S.K...
basketball player from BalıkesirBalikesirBalıkesir is the capital city of Balıkesir Province. Balıkesir is in the Marmara region of Turkey and has a population of 265,747 inhabitants. Old name is Karesi or Karasi.- History :... - Tülin AltıntaşTülin AltintasTülin Altıntaş is a Turkish volleyball player. Tülin is 187 cm and plays as middle player. She plays for DYO Karşıyaka and wear 11 number. She also played for Güneş Sigorta, Vakıfbank, 75.Yıl, Yeşilyurt and Fenerbahçe Acıbadem.- External links :*...
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volleyball player from BalıkesirBalikesirBalıkesir is the capital city of Balıkesir Province. Balıkesir is in the Marmara region of Turkey and has a population of 265,747 inhabitants. Old name is Karesi or Karasi.- History :... - Cengizhan KartaltepeCengizhan KartaltepeCengizhan Kartaltepe is a Turkish volleyball player. He is 193 cm and plays as libero. He has been playing for Fenerbahçe SK since 2009 and wears the number 1. He played 151 times for the national team and also played for Erdemir, Arçelik, Halkbankası and Mef Okulları.He signed contract on 27...
- Fenerbahçe IstanbulFenerbahçe Men's VolleyballFenerbahçe Grundig is the men's volleyball department of Fenerbahçe S.K., a major sports club based in Istanbul, Turkey. The senior team's name sponsor is Grundig....
volleyball player from BandırmaBandirmaBandırma is a city in northwestern Turkey with 113,385 inhabitants on the Sea of Marmara. Also, Bandırma is a district of Balıkesir.... - Uğur Tütüneker - former Galatasaray SKGalatasaray S.K. (football team)Galatasaray Anonim Şirketi is a Turkish football club, part of the Galatasaray S.K. multi-sport club of Istanbul. Galatasaray is a major sports club in Turkey, holding 17 Turkish Super League titles and the highest number of Turkish Cups....
soccer player from BalıkesirBalikesirBalıkesir is the capital city of Balıkesir Province. Balıkesir is in the Marmara region of Turkey and has a population of 265,747 inhabitants. Old name is Karesi or Karasi.- History :... - Vedat İnceefeVedat InceefeVedat İnceefe is a Turkish football player who currently plays for Karabükspor.He played for Soma Sotesspor , Karabükspor , Galatasaray , İstanbulspor , Vestel Manisaspor , Bursaspor and now Karabükspor.He played for Turkey national football team and was a participant at...
- former Galatasaray SKGalatasaray S.K. (football team)Galatasaray Anonim Şirketi is a Turkish football club, part of the Galatasaray S.K. multi-sport club of Istanbul. Galatasaray is a major sports club in Turkey, holding 17 Turkish Super League titles and the highest number of Turkish Cups....
soccer player from BandırmaBandirmaBandırma is a city in northwestern Turkey with 113,385 inhabitants on the Sea of Marmara. Also, Bandırma is a district of Balıkesir....