Isparta
Encyclopedia
Isparta is a city in western Turkey
and the provincial capital of the Isparta Province
. The city's population is 222,556 (as of 2010) and elevation from sea level is 1035 m. Another name of the city is "City of Roses".
The main economic activities of Isparta are rosewater
production and handmade carpet
making. Tourism
, both local and increasingly international due to "biblical tourism
", is also becoming an important source of revenues for the city. The Süleyman Demirel University
has introduced thousands of young men and women of various backgrounds to the city's mostly conservative fabric in the recent years. The football (soccer)
team of the city Ispartaspor
is in the third level league.
Some historical buildings and houses remain from the nineteenth century, but these are rare compared to the number of modern constructions. There are several important mosques in Isparta, including the pre-Ottoman Hizir Bey mosque (circa 1325), the Kutlubey or Ulu (Great) mosque (1429, with major restorations in the nineteenth century) and Haci Abdi mosque (1569). The city also boasts a mosque by the Ottoman court architect Mimar Sinan, the sixteenth century Firdevs Pasa mosque. The mosque knows also Mimarsinan mosque. There are several remaining Greek Orthodox churches from the Ottoman period in ruined condition. The Byzantine fortress is also mostly in ruins. The city lies close to a fault line and thus prone to violent earthquake
s.
Isparta has good connections to other parts of Turkey with both railways and by road
. Antalya
lies 130 km to the south and Eskişehir 350 km to the north.
On November 30, 2007, an Atlasjet
McDonnell-Douglas passenger jet with 57 people on board crashed
on approach to Isparta airport. All aboard were killed.
with:
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
and the provincial capital of the Isparta Province
Isparta Province
Isparta Province is a province in southwestern Turkey. Its adjacent provinces are Afyon to the northwest, Burdur to the southwest, Antalya to the south, and Konya to the east. It has an area of 8,993 km² and a population of 448,298 up from 434,771...
. The city's population is 222,556 (as of 2010) and elevation from sea level is 1035 m. Another name of the city is "City of Roses".
The main economic activities of Isparta are rosewater
Rosewater
Rose water or rose syrup is the hydrosol portion of the distillate of rose petals. Rose water, itself a by-product of the production of rose oil for use in perfume, is used to flavour food, as a component in some cosmetic and medical preparations, and for religious purposes throughout Europe and...
production and handmade carpet
Carpet
A carpet is a textile floor covering consisting of an upper layer of "pile" attached to a backing. The pile is generally either made from wool or a manmade fibre such as polypropylene,nylon or polyester and usually consists of twisted tufts which are often heat-treated to maintain their...
making. Tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
, both local and increasingly international due to "biblical tourism
Pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a journey or search of great moral or spiritual significance. Typically, it is a journey to a shrine or other location of importance to a person's beliefs and faith...
", is also becoming an important source of revenues for the city. The Süleyman Demirel University
Süleyman Demirel University
Süleyman Demirel University is a public university located in Isparta, Turkey. Established in 1992, the university, with around 55.000 students, is the second largest academic institution in Turkey. SDU is known for its programs in agricultural research, medicine, engineering, and business sciences...
has introduced thousands of young men and women of various backgrounds to the city's mostly conservative fabric in the recent years. The football (soccer)
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
team of the city Ispartaspor
Ispartaspor
Ispartaspor is a Turkish football team from the city of Isparta in Isparta Province. The team currently plays in Group 3 of the Turkish Third League. Pink and green are the club's colours....
is in the third level league.
Some historical buildings and houses remain from the nineteenth century, but these are rare compared to the number of modern constructions. There are several important mosques in Isparta, including the pre-Ottoman Hizir Bey mosque (circa 1325), the Kutlubey or Ulu (Great) mosque (1429, with major restorations in the nineteenth century) and Haci Abdi mosque (1569). The city also boasts a mosque by the Ottoman court architect Mimar Sinan, the sixteenth century Firdevs Pasa mosque. The mosque knows also Mimarsinan mosque. There are several remaining Greek Orthodox churches from the Ottoman period in ruined condition. The Byzantine fortress is also mostly in ruins. The city lies close to a fault line and thus prone to violent earthquake
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
s.
Isparta has good connections to other parts of Turkey with both railways and by road
Road
A road is a thoroughfare, route, or way on land between two places, which typically has been paved or otherwise improved to allow travel by some conveyance, including a horse, cart, or motor vehicle. Roads consist of one, or sometimes two, roadways each with one or more lanes and also any...
. Antalya
Antalya
Antalya is a city on the Mediterranean coast of southwestern Turkey. With a population 1,001,318 as of 2010. It is the eighth most populous city in Turkey and country's biggest international sea resort.- History :...
lies 130 km to the south and Eskişehir 350 km to the north.
On November 30, 2007, an Atlasjet
Atlasjet
Atlasjet Havacılık A.Ş. is an airline based in Florya, Bakırköy district, Istanbul, Turkey, operating domestic and international scheduled passenger services and regular charter flights to Europe, Kazakhstan and the United Arab Emirates, usually out of either Atatürk International Airport,...
McDonnell-Douglas passenger jet with 57 people on board crashed
Atlasjet Flight 4203
Atlasjet Flight 4203 was a scheduled flight from Istanbul's Atatürk International Airport to Isparta Süleyman Demirel Airport in Isparta, Turkey. On November 30, 2007 it crashed outside the town of Keçiborlu, 18 km from Isparta at around 01:36 EET...
on approach to Isparta airport. All aboard were killed.
Climate
Isparta has a semi-arid climate with cold, snowy winters and hot, dry summers.History of the city
- 1st millennium CE: Known as Baris and part of the Byzantine EmpireByzantine EmpireThe Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
. - 1203: Occupied by the SeljuqGreat Seljuq EmpireThe Great Seljuq Empire was a medieval Persianate, Turko-Persian Sunni Muslim empire, originating from the Qynyq branch of Oghuz Turks. The Seljuq Empire controlled a vast area stretching from the Hindu Kush to eastern Anatolia and from Central Asia to the Persian Gulf...
s. - Late 13th century: Becomes part of the Hamidids.
- 1381: Isparta is sold to the OttomanOttoman EmpireThe Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
sultan Murad IMurad IMurad I was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, from 1361 to 1389...
by the Hamidid emir. - Late 19th century: Muslim refugees from the Balkans settle around Isparta. The Bulgarian refugees brought the knowledge of rosewater production with them.
People from and related to Isparta
- Süleyman DemirelSüleyman DemirelSami Süleyman Gündoğdu Demirel, better known as Süleyman Demirel , is a Turkish politician who served as Prime Minister seven times and was the ninth President of Turkey.-Life:Demirel was born in İslamköy, a town in Isparta Province...
, former prime minister and president of Turkey, was born in the village of Islamköy close to Isparta. - Zeki DemirkubuzZeki DemirkubuzZeki Demirkubuz is a contemporary Turkish film director, screenwriter, producer and film editor.- Biography :...
, Film director, screenwriter and producer. - Said NursiSaid NursîBediuzzaman Said Nursî ,commonly known as Bediüzzaman , which means "The Wonder of the Age" was a Muslim scholar who wrote the Risale-i Nur Collection, a body of Qur'anic commentary exceeding six thousand pages. . He was born in Nurs, a village in the Ottoman Bitlis Province in eastern Anatolia. He...
, Islamic thinker. Spent the last decade of his life in this city. - Bora Maviş, Summiter of Mount EverestMount EverestMount Everest is the world's highest mountain, with a peak at above sea level. It is located in the Mahalangur section of the Himalayas. The international boundary runs across the precise summit point...
. - Emre AydınEmre AydinEmre Aydın is a Turkish rock singer-songwriter. He has been referred to as emreaydın on his official site to establish a trademark. The singer won the MTV Europe Music Awards 2008 in the "Europe's Favourite Act" category. He is also the former lead singer for the Turkish rock band 6...
, rockRock musicRock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
singer-songwriter. - Erkan MumcuErkan MumcuErkan Mumcu is a Turkish politician and the sixth leader of the Motherland Party .-Biography:...
, Motherland PartyMotherland PartyMotherland Party is the name of several parties:-See also:*Fatherland Party *List of generic names of political parties....
leader. - Mustafa DoganMustafa DoganMustafa Doğan is a retired German footballer of Turkish descent who played as a central defender.During his professional career, he played for teams in both his native country and land of adoption, representing the German national team in the late 90's.-Football career:A native of the village of...
, footballer. - Hüseyin Avni Pasha, Ottoman Grand Vizier
Twin towns — Sister cities
Isparta is twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with:
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