View source for Elazığ

{{short description|Municipality in Eastern Anatolia, Turkey}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox Turkey place
| type                 = municipality
| name                 = Elazığ
| image_skyline        = Elazığ City Center.jpg
| image_caption        = A view of the city centre
| image_shield         =
| coordinates          = {{coord|38|40|28|N|39|13|22|E|region:TR|display=inline,title}}
| province             = Elazığ
| district             = Elazığ
| leader_party         = AKP
| leader_name          = Şahin Şerifoğulları
| area_footnotes       =
|seat=| area_total_km2       =
| elevation_m          = 1067
| population_footnotes = <ref name=tuik/>
| population_total     = 387072
| population_as_of     = 2022
| postal_code          = 23000
| area_code            = 0424
| website              = {{URL|https://www.elazig.bel.tr/}}
}}
'''Elazığ''' ({{IPA|tr|eˈlazɯː}}) is a city in the [[Eastern Anatolia Region|Eastern Anatolia]] region of [[Turkey]], and the administrative centre of [[Elazığ Province]] and [[Elazığ District]].<ref>[https://www.e-icisleri.gov.tr/Anasayfa/MulkiIdariBolumleri.aspx İl Belediyesi], Turkey Civil Administration Departments Inventory. Retrieved 21 December 2022.</ref> Founded in and around the former city of [[Harput]], it is located in the uppermost [[Euphrates]] valley. The plain on which the city extends has an altitude of {{convert|1067|m|ft}}. Elazığ resembles an inland peninsula surrounded by the natural [[Lake Hazar]] and [[reservoir]]s of [[Keban Dam]], [[Karakaya Dam]], [[Kralkızı Dam|Kıralkızı]] and [[Özlüce Dam|Özlüce]].<ref name="kultur.gov.tr">{{cite web |url=http://www.kultur.gov.tr/genel/medya/iltanitimbrosuru-eng/elazig_eng.pdf |title=Elâzığ |website=kultur.gov.tr }}</ref> Its population is 387,072 (2022).<ref name=tuik>{{Cite web |title=Address-based population registration system (ADNKS) results dated 31 December 2022, Favorite Reports|url=https://biruni.tuik.gov.tr/medas/?kn=95&locale=en |access-date=19 September 2023|publisher=[[TÜİK]]|language=en|format=XLS}}</ref>
==Name==
=== Mezre ===
Elazığ was once a suburb of the ancient fortress town of [[Harpoot|Harput]] called {{Lang|tr|Mezre}}. [[Heinrich Hübschmann]] believed Mezre to be the settlement of Mazara ({{Lang|grc|Μαζάρα}}) mentioned by [[Ptolemy]], while [[Nicholas Adontz]] derived the name from an Arabic word meaning arable land or hamlet (borrowed into Turkish as {{Lang|tr|mezra}} 'hamlet').<ref name=":32">{{Cite book |last1=Hakobyan |first1=T. Kh. |title=Hayastani ev harakitsʻ shrjanneri teghanunneri baṛaran |last2=Melik-Bakhshyan |first2=St. T. |last3=Barseghyan |first3=H. Kh. |publisher=Yerevan State University |year=1991 |volume=3 |pages=754 |language=hy |trans-title=Dictionary of toponymy of Armenia and adjacent territories |chapter=Mezire |chapter-url=http://nayiri.com/imagedDictionaryBrowser.jsp?dictionaryId=61&query=%D5%B4%D5%A5%D5%A6%D5%AB%D6%80%D5%A5}}</ref><ref>M. Th. Houtsma. E. J. Brill's First Encyclopaedia of Islam, 1913-1936, Volume 4. p. 915.</ref> The toponym {{Lang|tr|Mezre}} originated as a shortening of {{Lang|ota-Latn|Ağavat Mezrası}} ('hamlet of the [[Agha (title)|aghas]]/landlords') or {{Lang|ota-Latn|Mezra-ı Çötelizade}} ('Çötelizade [a family name] hamlet'). This may be explained by the fact that some notables from Harput had been exiled from the city and settled in nearby villages in the late 18th century.<ref name=":02">{{Cite thesis |last=Sipahi |first=Ali |title=At Arm's Length: Historical Ethnography of Proximity in Harput |date=2015 |degree=PhD |publisher=University of Michigan |url=https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/116706/asipahi_1.pdf;sequence=1}} pp. 35–36.</ref>
===Harput===
Some Armenians from [[Harpoot|Harput]] ({{Langx|hy|Խարբերդ|translit=Kharberd}}) are said to have settled on the site in 1617, so Elazığ was sometimes called ''Nor Kharberd'' ({{literal translation}} 'New Harput') in Armenian.<ref name=":32" /> The [[Kurdish languages|Kurdish]] name is {{Lang|ku-Latn|Xarpêt}}.<ref name = "Avcıkıran">{{cite book |author1=Adem Avcıkıran |url= |title=Kürtçe Anamnez Anamneza bi Kurmancî |date=2009 |page=56 |language=tr, ku |access-date=}}</ref> The name of the city in [[Syriac language|Syriac]] is {{Transliteration|syc|Kartbert}} ({{Lang|syc|ܟܪܦܘܬ}}) or {{Transliteration|syc|Kharput}} ({{Lang|syc|ܟܪܬܒܪܬ}}).<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=KAZA MAMURET ÜL-AZIZ / HARPUT-MEZRE / HARPUT / ԽԱՐԲԵՐԴ – KHARBERD / ELAZIĞ (ALʿAZĪZ) / ܟܪܬܒܪܬ (ܟܪܦܘܬ) KARTBERT (KHARPUT) |url=https://virtual-genocide-memorial.de/region/the-six-provinces/harput-mamuret-uel-aziz-vilayet/sancak-harput-mezere/kaza-harput-mezere/ |access-date=17 September 2022}}</ref>
===Elazığ===
With the creation of the [[Mamuret-ul-Aziz vilayet]] of the Ottoman Empire, the name ''Mamuret-ul-Aziz'' came into use as a name alternative for the city. This name quickly evolved into ''al-Aziz''<ref>{{Cite web|title=Milli Gazete {{!}} 2 Years Passed Since The Earthquake… Teachers House Still Unavailable|url=http://en.milligazete.com.tr/2_years_passed_since_the_earthquake%E2%80%A6_teachers_house_still_unavailable/12201|access-date=2022-01-20|website=en.milligazete.com.tr}}</ref> ({{langx|tr|Elaziz}}; {{langx|ku-Latn|Elezîz}}<ref name = "Avcıkıran"/>). In 1937, through an order from [[Mustafa Kemal Atatürk]], this name was Turkified as ''Elazık'' ({{IPA|tr|eˈlazɯk}}), but due to difficulties in its pronunciation, it was finally accepted as ''Elazığ''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Elazığ Tarihi |url=http://www.elazig.gov.tr/elazig-tarihi#:~:text=Sultan%20Abdulaziz%27in%20tahta%20%C3%A7%C4%B1k%C4%B1%C5%9F%C4%B1n%C4%B1n,%22Elaziz%22%20olarak%20s%C3%B6ylene%20gelmi%C5%9Ftir. |website=T. C. Elazığ Valiliği |access-date=30 October 2022}}</ref>
==History==
{{See also|Harpoot}}
The town of Mezre (future Elazığ) was founded on the fertile plain below the hill on which the much older fortress and settlement of Harput were constructed. It was located about {{convert|5|km|abbr=off|disp=b}} to the southwest of Harput. The [[Hurrians]], who settled in this area in {{circa}} 2000 B.C., are the earliest known inhabitants of the area. Harput and its surrounding region were part of the kingdom of [[Urartu]] at its maximum extent, and the Urartians may have been the first to build a fortress here.<ref>{{cite book |title=Anatolian Iron Ages: the proceedings of the second Anatolian Iron Ages Colloquium held at İzmir, 4–8 May 1987 |isbn = 9780946897384|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bDhpAAAAMAAJ&q=harput+Urartu|last1 = Çilingiroğlu|first1 = Altan|last2 = French|first2 = David H.|year = 1991}}</ref> Historian [[Hakob Manandian]] believed it to have been the main fortress of the earlier [[Hayasa-Azzi]] confederation.<ref name=":322">{{Cite book |last1=Hakobyan |first1=T. Kh. |title=Hayastani ev harakitsʻ shrjanneri teghanunneri baṛaran |last2=Melik-Bakhshyan |first2=St. T. |last3=Barseghyan |first3=H. Kh. |publisher=Yerevan State University |year=1988 |volume=2 |pages=697–699 |language=hy |trans-title=Dictionary of toponymy of Armenia and adjacent territories |chapter=Kharberd |chapter-url=http://nayiri.com/imagedDictionaryBrowser.jsp?dictionaryId=61&query=%D5%AD%D5%A1%D6%80%D5%A2%D5%A5%D6%80%D5%A4}}</ref> It is possible that Harput stands on or is near the site of [[Carcathiocerta]] (more commonly identified with [[Eğil]]<ref name="Marciak 20142">{{cite journal |last1=Marciak |first1=Michał |date=2014 |title=The Historical Geography of Sophene |journal=Acta Antiqua |volume=52 |issue=4 |pages=295–338 |doi=10.1556/aant.52.2012.4.1}}</ref>), the first capital of the [[Kingdom of Sophene]].<ref name=":322" /> The early Muslim geographers knew Harput as {{Transliteration|ar|Ḥiṣn Ziyād}} ("the fortress of Ziyād"), but the Armenian name, Khartabirt or Kharbirt, whence Kharput and Harput, was generally adopted in time.
===Ottoman Harput and Mamûretü'l-Azîz===
Harput and its vicinity fell under Turkish control in the year 1085 as a result of the [[Battle of Manzikert]], which took place on August 26, 1071. The region around the fortress changed hands frequently in the subsequent centuries, coming under the control of the [[Beylik of Çubukoğulları|Çubukoğulları]], [[Artuqids]], [[Sultanate of Rum]], [[Ilkhanate]], [[Beylik of Dulkadir]], [[Aq Qoyunlu]], [[Safavids]] and [[Ottoman Empire|Ottomans]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kultur.gov.tr/EN/BelgeGoster.aspx?17A16AE30572D31395FB1C5180B6EBD6E28888CAE96CDD28 |title=Republic Of Turkey Ministry Of Culture And Tourism |publisher=Kultur.gov.tr |access-date=2014-08-09}}</ref>
According to an official history written in 1883, Mezre was originally a small hamlet in the vicinity of Harput which served as the official residence of the Çötelizades, one of the notable families exiled from Harput in the 1780s-90s.{{Sfn|Sipahi|2015|p=45}} In 1834–36, the Çötelizades hosted the governor and military commander [[Reşid Mehmed Pasha]], who turned the hamlet into a garrison for his campaigns in the eastern regions of the empire.{{Sfn|Sipahi|2015|p=49}} In the 1850s and 60s, Mezre grew into a small town or suburb of Harput with a prosperous Armenian bourgeoisie.{{Sfn|Sipahi|2015|pp=143-144}} In 1869, an Armenian named Krikor Ipekjian (later Fabrikatorian) founded a silk factory in Mezre.<ref name=":32" /> In 1878, it was made the administrative centre of the [[Mamuret-ul-Aziz vilayet|Mamuret-ul-Aziz Vilayet]] (commonly referred to as the Harput Vilayet).<ref name=":32" /> According to census data from the 1880s, the population of Mezre consisted of 2,126 non-Muslim and 548 Muslim inhabitants, making it the only vilayet centre with an Armenian majority besides [[Van, Turkey|Van]].{{Sfn|Sipahi|2015|p=184}} Meanwhile, Harput proper had a population of 12,974 people (5,125 were non-Muslim and 7,849 Muslim).{{Sfn|Sipahi|2015|p=184}} The populous villages on the plain below also had mixed Armenian-Muslim populations.<ref name=":32" /> The population of Mezre were mainly merchants, craftsmen and bureaucrats.<ref name=":32" />
In 1892, the Armenian National Central Academy ({{Transliteration|hy|Azkayin Getronakan Varzharan}}) was founded in Mezre. By 1911, there was also an Armenian girls' school and a seminary, as well as two colleges run by French and German missionaries, among other educational institutions.<ref name=":32" /> There were four Armenian churches built in Mezre in the 19th (two [[Armenian Apostolic Church|Armenian Apostolic]], one [[Armenian Catholic Church|Catholic]], and one Protestant).<ref name=":32" /> Mezre, like Harput, also had a minority population of [[Terms for Syriac Christians|Syriac Christians]].<ref name=":12">{{cite journal |last1=Akopian |first1=Arman |date=2020 |title=The Syriacs of Kharberd (Kharput) on the Eve of the 1915 Genocide |journal=Hugoye: Journal of Syriac Studies |volume=23 |issue=1 |pages=279–322 |doi=10.31826/hug-2020-230110 |s2cid=235465241|doi-access=free }}</ref> The building of the American consulate in Harput, established in 1901, was in fact located in Mezre.<ref name=":4">{{Cite book |last=Kévorkian |first=Raymond |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tbaKDwAAQBAJ |title=The Armenian Genocide: A Complete History |publisher=[[I. B. Tauris]] |year=2011 |isbn=978-1-84885-561-8 |location=New York & London |pages=381–382 |author-link=Raymond Kévorkian}}</ref>
Harput was an important station for the American missionaries for many years. The missionaries built [[Euphrates College]], a theological seminary, and boys' and girls' schools. It operated until 1915 when its buildings were confiscated and used by the [[Ottoman Army (1861–1922)|Ottoman Army]] as barracks. In November 1895, government-backed [[Turkish people|Turks]] and [[Kurds]] massacred, looted and burned the Armenian villages on the plain. In the same month, Harput was attacked and the American schools were burned down.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.turkeyforyou.com/turkey_elazig_history|title=History of Elazig|website=www.turkeyforyou.com}}</ref><ref name="dadrian">{{cite book |first = Vahakn N. | last = Dadrian | title = The History of the Armenian Genocide | publisher = Berghahn Books | page = 160 | year = 2003 | isbn = 1571816666}}</ref> During the [[Armenian genocide]], many residents were killed.<ref>Henry H. Riggs, "Days of Tragedy in Armenia: Personal Experiences in Harpoot, 1915-1917", 1997, Michigan.</ref><ref name="dadrian"/>
===Turkish Republican era===
[[File:Harput_-_panoramio.jpg|thumb|Harput is a popular tourism destination in Elazığ]]
The town was captured by [[Kurds|Kurdish]] rebels during the [[Sheikh Said rebellion]] against the government of [[Atatürk]] in 1925.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Robert|first=Olson|title=The Emergence of Kurdish Nationalism and the Sheikh Said Rebellion, 1880–1925|year=2013|location=[[University of Texas Press]]|pages=110}}</ref> It was used as a base of operations by the [[Turkish Army]] during the [[Dersim rebellion]].
Elazığ was the seat of the [[Fourth Inspectorate-General (Turkey)|Fourth Inspectorate-General]] from 1936<ref name="Çağaptay">Soner Çaǧaptay, ''Islam, Secularism, and Nationalism in Modern Turkey: Who is a Turk?'', Taylor & Francis, 2006, {{ISBN|978-0-415-38458-2}}, p. 48</ref> until 1952.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last1=Fleet|first1=Kate|title=The Cambridge History of Turkey|last2=Kunt|first2=I. Metin|last3=Kasaba|first3=Reşat|last4=Faroqhi|first4=Suraiya|date=2008-04-17|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-62096-3|pages=343|language=en}}</ref> The Inspectorate General included the provinces of Elazığ, [[Erzincan Province|Erzincan]], [[Bingöl Province|Bingöl]], and [[Tunceli Province|Tunceli]] and was governed by a Governor Commander under military authority. He had wide-ranging power over the civilians and could order the application of capital punishment without permission from the Turkish parliament. The office of the Governor Commander was eventually left vacant in 1948<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Bayir|first=Derya|title=Minorities and Nationalism in Turkish Law|date=2016-04-22|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-317-09579-8|pages=139–141|language=en}}</ref> but the legal framework for the [[Inspectorates-General (Turkey)|Inspectorate-Generals]] was only abolished in 1952.<ref name=":1" />
Elazığ rapidly developed into a modern city in the Republican era, while Harput was largely an abandoned ruin in the 1930s and 1940s.{{Sfn|Sipahi|2015|p=414}} Efforts began in the 1950s to renovate the old town of Harput: some historic monuments were restored, a new municipality building was built and a museum was opened. Over time, Harput was turned into a suburb of Elazığ, and facilities were created for tourism and recreation.{{Sfn|Sipahi|2015|p=418}} The ruined Armenian neighborhoods of Harput were leveled in the 1960s and the 1970s.{{Sfn|Sipahi|2015|p=427}}
==Ecclesiastical history==
'''Harberd''' had many Armenian churches and monasteries. Also, in '''Harberd''' was seat of a Syrian Orthodox bishop as early as the eleventh century, whose diocese was initially called '''Ḥiṣn Ziyād''' and later '''Harput'''. Unlike many Christian dioceses in Turkey, Armenian and Assyrian churches are still functioning even after the massacres that took place in the city during the [[Armenian genocide]]s and [[Sayfo|Assyrian]], in which the bishop and most of his flock were killed.<ref>Fiey, ''Pour un Oriens Christianus Novus'', 216–17</ref> The diocese has two priests, with the main church being based in the ancient Merymana Kilisesi next to the wall of the old fortress.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://soc-wus.org/ourchurch/Pat_V_Adiyaman.htm|title=Mor Malki Ürek|website=soc-wus.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/S%C3%BCryani+Kadim+Meryem+Ana+Kilisesi/@38.7034071,39.258492,262m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x0000000000000000:0x9b028fb591dd04db!6m1!1e1|title=Google Maps|website=Google Maps}}</ref>
An [[Armenian Catholic]] [[diocese of Kharput]] was created in 1850 but was not re-established as a residential diocese after the Armenian genocide, only as an Armenian Catholic [[Titular see]].{{fact|date=December 2022}}
An [[Armenian Evangelical Church, Elâzığ|Armenian Evangelical Church]], built in the 19th century, survives as a ruined shell of its former self in the middle of a car park.{{fact|date=December 2022}}
==Demographics==
In the early 20th century, the city was mainly inhabited by Turks<ref name = "Lieberman">{{cite book |last1=Lieberman |first1=Benjamin |title=Terrible Fate Ethnic Cleansing in the Making of Modern Europe |date=16 December 2013 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers |page=104 |isbn=9781442230385 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UXlfAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA104 |access-date=12 September 2022}}</ref><ref name = "Barton" /> and [[Armenians]].<ref name = "Barton" /> The Armenian population grew rapidly in the late 19th century<ref name=":2" /> and made up most<ref name=":2" /> or half<ref name = "Barton">{{cite book |title=Supreme Court Appellate Division First Department |publisher=Royal Law Printing Co. |location=177 Pearl St., New York City, NY |page=274 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=heUzWRtuhNUC&pg=PA274 |access-date=12 September 2022}}</ref> of the population. According to the [[Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople]], before the First World War, 39,788 Armenians lived in the [[kaza]] of Harput-Mezre, including 20,590 peasants in the surrounding 50 villages. They had 67 churches, 9 monasteries, and 92 schools. Most of the Armenians of the Kaza lived in the surrounding villages. Men were executed and women and children were sold to Muslims during the [[Armenian genocide]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kaza Mamuret ül-Aziz / Harput-Mezre / Harput / Խարբերդ – Kharberd / Elazığ (alʿAzīz) / ܟܪܬܒܪܬ (ܟܪܦܘܬ) Kartbert (Kharput) |url=https://virtual-genocide-memorial.de/region/the-six-provinces/harput-mamuret-uel-aziz-vilayet/sancak-harput-mezere/kaza-harput-mezere/ |access-date=2023-09-20 |website=Virtual Genocide Memorial |language=en-US}}</ref> The city also housed [[Assyrian people|Assyrians]] and [[Kurds]].<ref name=":2" />
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Mother tongue, [[Elazığ District]], [[1927 Turkish census]]<ref name=1927census>[https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/157417 1927 NÜFUS SAYIMI SONUÇLARINA GÖRE ELAZIĞ NÜFUSU]</ref>
! [[Turkish language|Turkish]] !! [[Arabic]] !! [[Kurdish languages|Kurdish]] !! [[Circassian languages|Circassian]] !! [[Armenian language|Armenian]] !! Unknown or other language
|-
| 60,740 || 12 || 16,700 || 2 || 1,659 || 98
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Religion, [[Elazığ District]], [[1927 Turkish census]]<ref name=1927census/>
! [[Islam in Turkey|Muslim]] !! [[Christianity in Turkey|Christian]] !! [[History of the Jews in Turkey|Jewish]] !! Unknown or other religion
|-
| 77,369 || 1,782 || 1 || 62
|}
The city currently has a mixed population of [[Kurds]] and [[Turkish people|Turks]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=White |first=Paul J. |title=Primitive Rebels Or Revolutionary Modernizers? |year=2000 |isbn=1856498212 |location=Zed Books |pages=87,158}}</ref>
==Economy==
[[File:Keban_barajı-Keban-Elazığ_-_panoramio_-_HALUK_COMERTEL_(1).jpg|thumbnail|[[Keban Dam]] on [[Euphrates River]]]]
[[File:Flughafen_Elazığ.JPG|thumbnail|[[Elazığ Airport]]]]
In the late 19th and early 20th century, Elazığ exported [[raisin]]s, [[apricot]]s and [[almond]]s to Europe. [[Opium]] was also grown in the area.<ref name=Prothero62>{{cite book|last=Prothero|first=W. G.|title=Armenia and Kurdistan|year=1920|publisher=H.M. Stationery Office|location=London|page=62|url=http://www.wdl.org/en/item/11768/view/1/62/}}</ref> [[Honey]] was also produced, but mainly to be used by locals rather than exported.<ref name=Prothero64>{{cite book|last=Prothero|first=W. G.|title=Armenia and Kurdistan|year=1920|publisher=H.M. Stationery Office|location=London|page=64|url=http://www.wdl.org/en/item/11768/view/1/64/}}</ref> Gold was also found in the area in the early 20th century.<ref name=Prothero74>{{cite book|last=Prothero|first=W. G.|title=Armenia and Kurdistan|year=1920|publisher=H.M. Stationery Office|location=London|page=74|url=http://www.wdl.org/en/item/11768/view/1/74/}}</ref>
More than 30,000 people and at least 212 villages were affected by the construction of the [[Keban Dam]] in 1966–1974, which flooded several formerly populated areas. Many of those who were forced to move by the construction of the dam chose to settle in Elazığ and invested the indemnities paid to them by the state in houses in Elazığ or in small businesses. However, over 80% of families in zones affected by the Keban dam were landless peasants and thus ineligible to receive compensation, or peasants with little land who would receive very little money (Koyunlu 1982: 250)
The dam, industry, and mining accounts for the high level of urbanization (42.7% in 1970) surpassing the average levels for [[Eastern Anatolia Region|Eastern Anatolia]]. The main agricultural activity of the area centers around vineyards and Elazığ also serves as a market hub for other agricultural products. The state-run vineyards of Elazığ are notable for their production of [[Buzbağ]], a full-flavored [[red wine]].
Today, Elazığ is the capital of the [[Elazığ Province]]. It is a busy city with a university and an industrial base, although historic monuments are scarce. The exception is the ancient citadel and town of Harput, a dependency of the greater municipality of Elazığ today situated three miles ({{convert|3|mi|abbr=out|disp=output only}}) to the north of the city centre. Elazığ is the most developed city (and province) in the region, according to a report carried out by the Ministry of Development, making it the most developed region of [[Eastern Anatolia Region]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.haberturk.com/yasam/haber/745288-en-gelismis-ve-en-geri-kalmis-ilimiz |title=The most developed and most undeveloped province, 25 May 2012 |publisher=Haberturk.com |date=2012-05-25 |access-date=2014-08-09}}</ref>
==Geography==
Elazığ is situated at the northwestern corner of a 30-mile-long valley, known locally as Uluova (literally ''the Great Valley''). The area's Armenians called this valley "Vosgetashd" (''the Golden Plain''). Its altitude is {{convert|3,300| feet|metres}}, latitude and longitude of 38 degrees and 41 minutes North, and 39 degrees and 14 minutes East. Elazığ Province is surrounded by the [[Euphrates]] in the north, and since the completion of [[Keban Dam]] the rivers came to cover almost ten percent of the surface area ({{convert|826|km2|sqmi}}) of the province ({{convert|8,455|km²|sqmi}}). Elazığ's adjacent province borders are with Tunceli (North), Erzincan (North-West), Bingöl (East), Diyarbakır (South), and Malatya (West).
===Subdivisions===
The city of Elazığ is divided into 41 quarters: Hilalkent, Çaydaçıra, Ataşehir, Cumhuriyet, Çatalçeşme, Doğukent, Fevziçakmak, Gümüşkavak, Karşıyaka, Kırklar, Kızılay, Kültür, Nailbey, Rızaiye, Salibaba, Sanayi, Sürsürü, Ulukent, Yeni, Zafran, Alayaprak, Esentepe, Göllübağ, Harput Merkez, Sugözü, Izzetpaşa, Akpınar, Çarşı, Icadiye, Aksaray, Mustafapaşa, Olgunlar, Rüstempaşa, Sarayatik, Üniversite, Yıldızbağları, Abdullahpaşa, Hicret, [[Şahinkaya, Elazığ|Şahinkaya]], [[Yemişlik, Elazığ|Yemişlik]] and Güneykent.<ref>[https://www.e-icisleri.gov.tr/Anasayfa/MulkiIdariBolumleri.aspx Mahalle], Turkey Civil Administration Departments Inventory. Retrieved 21 December 2022.</ref>
===Climate===
Elazığ has a [[Mediterranean climate|Mediterranean]] ([[Köppen climate classification]]: ''Csa'') or [[Continental climate|continental]] ([[Trewartha climate classification]]: ''Dca'') climate with cold, snowy winters and hot, dry summers.
Highest recorded temperature:{{Convert|42.4|C|F|abbr=on}} on 20 July 2021<br>Lowest recorded temperature:{{Convert|-22.6|C|F|abbr=on}} on 30 December 1951 and 20 January 1972<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.mgm.gov.tr/veridegerlendirme/il-ve-ilceler-istatistik.aspx?k=A&m=ELAZIG | title = İllerimize Ait Genel İstatistik Verileri | publisher = Turkish State Meteorological Service | language = tr | access-date = 16 July 2024}}</ref>
{{Weather box
|metric first= Yes
|single line= Yes
|location= Elazığ (1991–2020, extremes 1939–2023)
|collapsed =
| Jan record high C = 13.0
| Feb record high C = 18.6
| Mar record high C = 26.4
| Apr record high C = 32.2
| May record high C = 36.6
| Jun record high C = 38.6
| Jul record high C = 42.4
| Aug record high C = 42.2
| Sep record high C = 39.7
| Oct record high C = 32.4
| Nov record high C = 24.3
| Dec record high C = 19.6
| year record high C =
| Jan high C = 4.0
| Feb high C = 6.3
| Mar high C = 12.4
| Apr high C = 18.4
| May high C = 24.2
| Jun high C = 30.7
| Jul high C = 35.2
| Aug high C = 35.2
| Sep high C = 30.1
| Oct high C = 22.6
| Nov high C = 13.1
| Dec high C = 5.9
| year high C = 19.8
| Jan mean C = 0.1
| Feb mean C = 1.5
| Mar mean C = 6.7
| Apr mean C = 12.1
| May mean C = 17.1
| Jun mean C = 23.0
| Jul mean C = 27.4
| Aug mean C = 27.3
| Sep mean C = 21.9
| Oct mean C = 15.3
| Nov mean C = 7.3
| Dec mean C = 2.2
| year mean C = 13.5
| Jan low C = -3.1
| Feb low C = -2.6
| Mar low C = 1.6
| Apr low C = 6.2
| May low C = 10.3
| Jun low C = 14.7
| Jul low C = 19.0
| Aug low C = 18.9
| Sep low C = 13.9
| Oct low C = 8.8
| Nov low C = 2.6
| Dec low C = -0.9
| year low C = 7.4
| Jan record low C = -22.6
| Feb record low C = -21.4
| Mar record low C = -17.0
| Apr record low C = -7.0
| May record low C = 0.0
| Jun record low C = 4.0
| Jul record low C = 6.7
| Aug record low C = 10.2
| Sep record low C = 1.0
| Oct record low C = -2.2
| Nov record low C = -15.2
| Dec record low C = -22.6
| year record low C = -22.6
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 37.8
| Feb precipitation mm = 41.8
| Mar precipitation mm = 50.9
| Apr precipitation mm = 60.7
| May precipitation mm = 51.4
| Jun precipitation mm = 13.6
| Jul precipitation mm = 3.3
| Aug precipitation mm = 1.3
| Sep precipitation mm = 9.9
| Oct precipitation mm = 42.1
| Nov precipitation mm = 45.6
| Dec precipitation mm = 45.6
| year precipitation mm = 404.0
| Jan precipitation days = 11.1
| Feb precipitation days = 10.73
| Mar precipitation days = 11.23
| Apr precipitation days = 11.8
| May precipitation days = 11.2
| Jun precipitation days = 4.47
| Jul precipitation days = 1.4
| Aug precipitation days = 0.9
| Sep precipitation days = 2.7
| Oct precipitation days = 7.07
| Nov precipitation days = 7.93
| Dec precipitation days = 11.17
| year precipitation days = 91.7
| Jan snow days  =6.58
| Feb snow days  =4.46
| Mar snow days  =1.83
| Apr snow days  =0.17
| May snow days  =0
| Jun snow days  =0
| Jul snow days  =0
| Aug snow days  =0
| Sep snow days  =0
| Oct snow days  =0.04
| Nov snow days  =0.46
| Dec snow days  =2.58
| year snow days =
| Jan humidity    =73.1
| Feb humidity    =69.9
| Mar humidity    =61
| Apr humidity    =57
| May humidity    =53.5
| Jun humidity    =39.4
| Jul humidity    =31.5
| Aug humidity    =30.9
| Sep humidity    =36.5
| Oct humidity    =53.5
| Nov humidity    =67.1
| Dec humidity    =75.6
| year humidity   =
| Jan sun = 89.9
| Feb sun = 101.7
| Mar sun = 151.9
| Apr sun = 180.0
| May sun = 251.1
| Jun sun = 303.0
| Jul sun = 334.8
| Aug sun = 303.8
| Sep sun = 261.0
| Oct sun = 198.4
| Nov sun = 132.0
| Dec sun = 65.1
| year sun =
| Jand sun = 2.9
| Febd sun = 3.6
| Mard sun = 4.9
| Aprd sun = 6.0
| Mayd sun = 8.1
| Jund sun = 10.1
| Juld sun = 10.8
| Augd sun = 9.8
| Sepd sun = 8.7
| Octd sun = 6.4
| Novd sun = 4.4
| Decd sun = 2.1
| yeard sun = 6.5
| source 1 = [[Turkish State Meteorological Service]]<ref>
{{cite web
| url = https://www.mgm.gov.tr/veridegerlendirme/il-ve-ilceler-istatistik.aspx?k=H&m=ELAZIG
| title = Resmi İstatistikler: İllerimize Ait Mevism Normalleri (1991–2020)
| publisher = Turkish State Meteorological Service
| language = tr
| access-date = 28 June 2021}}</ref>
| source 2 = [[NCEI|NOAA NCEI]](humidity)<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Turkiye/CSV/Elazig_Bolge_17201.csv |title=World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991-2020: Elazig-Bolge |access-date= 16 July 2024|website=ncei.noaa.gov |publisher=[[NOAA|National Oceanic and Atmosoheric Administration]] |format=CSV |quote=WMO number: 17201}}</ref>
|date=January 2011}}
==Cuisine==
Elazığ cuisine is the second richest among all cities in Turkey with 154 different types of food and drinks according to a study conducted by the Ankara Chamber of Commerce.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.atonet.org.tr/yeni/index.php?p=1475&l=1 |title=Lezzetli Ülkenin Lezzet Haritası (2008-01-05) - ANKARA TICARET ODASI . |publisher=Atonet.org.tr |date=2008-01-05 |access-date=2014-08-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924033642/http://www.atonet.org.tr/yeni/index.php?p=1475&l=1 |archive-date=2014-09-24 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Particularly those who originated in the historic city of Harput have important fame in the region and the country. Apart from famous meat platters most of which include meatballs, naturally dried fruits and vegetables, and using them in main dishes are unique to Elazığ cuisine. Several examples could include:<ref name="kultur.gov.tr"/>
* Kofik dolma - ''stuffed dried peppers or aubergines''
* Kelecoş - ''fried meat and onion served over a bed of flatbread pieces softened in yogurt''
* İşkene - ''a breakfast soup containing broth and vegetables''
* Harput köfte - ''meatballs made with a mixture of minced meat, cracked wheat, herbs and spices boiled in tomato sauce''
* Taş Ekmeği - ''unleavened flatbread baked over hot stone or hotplate served with butter and jam''
* Işkın yemeği - ''a wild rhubarb dish''
* Sırın - ''pan-broiled handmade filo pastry roundels with a layer of yogurt and tomato sauce on top''
* Kömme - ''baked handmade filo pastry roundels built with a layer of meat filling and a layer of walnut paste''
* Gaygana - ''a mixture of eggs, yogurt, bicarbonate, and flour drops fried in oil''
* Orcik - ''walnut halves sewn in a thread, dipped into deep grape syrup''
* Orcik şekeri - ''caramelised sugar coated walnut pieces''
Elazığ is also known for its vineyards and two types of grape varieties [[Öküzgözü]] and [[Boğazkere]].
==Transport==
Elazığ is served by [[Elazığ Airport]] which lies about {{convert|12|km|0|abbr=on}} from the city center. The airport is the 19th busiest airport in Turkey in terms of passenger traffic.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.dhmi.gov.tr/istatistik.aspx | title=Statistics | publisher=General Directorate of State Airports Authority | access-date=January 29, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150628154703/http://www.dhmi.gov.tr/istatistik.aspx | archive-date=June 28, 2015 | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.world-airport-codes.com/turkey/elazig-2128.html|title=Elazığ - Turkey|website=World Airport Codes|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-23}}</ref> There are daily domestic flights from/to [[Ankara]], [[Istanbul]], and [[İzmir]]. During summer months there are some international flights from/to cities such as [[Düsseldorf]] and [[Frankfurt]] as well as from/to [[Antalya]] and [[Adana]].
There are local companies that provide coach services to almost all cities in Turkey. Ferryboat services are also present over the reservoir lakes to supplement highway connections to towns such as Ağın, and Pertek and Çemişgezek of [[Tunceli]].
The Blue Train (passenger express) provides the connection from Elazığ to Ankara.<ref name="kultur.gov.tr"/>
==Education==
Elazığ is home to [[Fırat University]], established in 1975 and since has become one of the leading academic institutions in eastern Turkey.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://firatuniversitesi.medyasoftdigital.com/en/our-university/history|title=History|website=firatuniversitesi.medyasoftdigital.com|language=en|access-date=2019-05-23}}</ref>
==Attractions==
[[File:Harput_kalesi-Harput-Elazığ_-_panoramio.jpg|thumb|Harput Castle]]
*[[Fırat University]]
*[[Harput Castle]]
*[[Elazığ Culture Park]]
*[[Elazığ Botanical Park]]
*[[Elazığ Gazi Caddesi]]
*Buzluk Mağarası (Ice Cave)
*Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography
*Hazar Gölü ([[Lake Hazar]])
[[File:Harput Ulu Cami 9621.jpg|thumb|Harput Ulu Camii]]
[[File:Lake Hazar and Mount Hazar Baba.jpg|thumb|Mount Hazar Baba rises above Lake Hazar]]
*Hazarbaba Ski Centre
*Historic mosques (''Cami'' in Turkish), churches and shrines (''Türbe'' in Turkish). Do note they are in [[Harput]], on a hill out of town, but near enough to pay them a visit.
** '''Ulu Camii''': Built by [[Artuqid]] Sultan Fahrettin Karaaslan in 1156. It is one of the oldest and most important structures in Anatolia
** '''Sarahatun Camii''' (also known as Sarayhatun Cami): Built by Sara Hatun, mother of [[Aq Qoyunlu|Aq Qoyunlu (White Sheep Turkomans)]] Sultan Bahadır Han (also known as [[Uzun Hassan]]), in 1465 as a small mosque. It was renovated in 1585 and 1843.
** '''Kurşunlu Camii''': Built between 1738 and 1739 in Harput during the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] era.
** Alacalı Camii
** '''Ağa Camii''': built in 1559.
** '''Arap Baba Mescidi ve Türbesi''': Built during the reign of [[Seljuk Empire|Seljuk]] Sultan [[Gıyaseddin Keyhüsrev III]] (son of Kılıçarslan IV) in 1279. The shrine contains a mummified body which is known as '''Arap Baba''' among commons.
** Fetih Ahmet Baba Türbesi (Shrine of Fetih Ahmed)
** Mansur Baba Türbesi
** Mary Church
** Sefik Gul Community Centre of Culture
==Twin towns – sister cities==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Turkey}}
Elazığ is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:<ref>{{cite web |title=Elazığ'ın Kardeş Şehirleri|url=https://www.elazig.bel.tr/kent-rehberi/elazig-in-kardes-sehirleri/254/|website=elazig.bel.tr|publisher=Elazığ|language=tr|access-date=2021-04-10}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|KAZ}} [[Akmola Region]], Kazakhstan
*{{flagicon|KOS}} [[Mamuša|Mamusha]], Kosovo
<!--Tallinn - cooperation, but not twinning-->
==Gallery==
<gallery>
2013-06-17_Elazig_Istasiyon2.jpg|Elazığ Train Station
2013-06-17_Elazig_Mezarligi-930-2.jpg|Old cemetery (with a cement plant behind it)
ElazigCultureParkNight.jpg|Culture Park
Harput Akşam 2.jpg|City view at night
DogukentElazig.jpg|Doğukent Stadium
Elazığ 2.jpg|A street in Elazığ
Elazığ 66.jpg|Armenian Evangelical Church, Elâzığ
</gallery>
== Notable people==
* [[Mehmet Ağar]], politician
* [[Aydın Güven Gürkan]], politician
* [[Sheikh Said]]-[[Naqshbandi]], sheikh
* [[Selahattin Demirtaş]], [[lawyer]] and [[politician]].
* [[Fatih Kısaparmak]], [[Turkish folk music]] [[artist]]
* [[Kenan Çoban]], actor
* [[Necati Şaşmaz]], actor
* [[Raci Şaşmaz]], film producer
* [[Ulvi Güveneroğlu]], [[footballer]]
* [[Yakup Kılıç|Yakup Kilic]], Boxer
== Mayors of Elazığ ==
* [[1984 Turkish local elections|1984]]-[[1989 Turkish local elections|1989]] [[:tr:Mustafa Temizer|Mustafa Temizer]] [[Motherland Party (Turkey)|ANAP]]
* [[1989 Turkish local elections|1989]]-[[1994 Turkish local elections|1994]] Hikmet Behçet Susmaz [[Nationalist Task Party|MÇP]], [[Nationalist Movement Party|MHP]]
* [[1994 Turkish local elections|1994]]-[[2004 Turkish local elections|2004]] [[:tr:Hamza Yanılmaz|Hamza Yanılmaz]] [[Refah Party]], [[Virtue Party|Fazilet Party]], [[Saadet Party]]
* [[2004 Turkish local elections|2004]]-[[2014 Turkish local elections|2014]] Mehmet Süleyman Selmanoğlu [[True Path Party|DYP]], [[Democratic Party (Turkey, 2007)|DP]], [[AK Party]]
* [[2014 Turkish local elections|2014]]-[[2019 Turkish local elections|2019]] Mücahit Yanılmaz [[AK Party]]
* [[2019 Turkish local elections|2019]]-[[present]] [[:tr:Şahin Şerifoğulları|Şahin Şerifoğulları]] [[AK Party]]
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
==Sources==
*{{Cite book |title=Studies in Islamic History and Civilization; Article: Ma'mûrat al-Aziz |page=[https://archive.org/details/aegeanturkey0000bean/page/342 342] |isbn=978-0-510-03200-5 |author=[[David Ayalon]], [[Moshe Sharon]] |publisher=Brill Publishers |year=1986 |url=https://archive.org/details/aegeanturkey0000bean/page/342 }}
*{{Cite book|title = Keban Project 1974-1975 Excavations; Article: The Village Settlement of Mumzuroğlu – Observations on Housing |author=Alpaslan Koyunlu |publisher=M.E.T.U.|year=1982}}
* {{Cite book|last=Fiey|first=Jean Maurice|author-link=Jean Maurice Fiey|title=Pour un Oriens Christianus Novus: Répertoire des diocèses syriaques orientaux et occidentaux|year=1993|location=Beirut|publisher=Orient-Institut|isbn=9783515057189|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cE5tAAAAMAAJ}}
==Further reading==
* {{cite journal |last1=Akopian |first1=Arman |title=The Syriacs of Kharberd (Kharput) on the Eve of the 1915 Genocide |journal=Hugoye: Journal of Syriac Studies |date=2020 |volume=23 |issue=1 |pages=279–322 |doi=10.31826/hug-2020-230110|s2cid=235465241 |doi-access=free }}
==External links==
{{commons category|Elâzığ}}
* [http://www.elazig.bel.tr Municipality's official website]
* [http://www.elazig.gov.tr Governor's official website]
{{portalbar|Turkey}}
{{Elazığ}}<!--This is not redundant as it links to places in Elazig-->
{{Elazığ District}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Elazig}}
[[Category:Elazığ| ]]
[[Category:Assyrian communities in Turkey]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1834]]
[[Category:Provincial municipalities in Turkey]]
[[Category:Populated places in Elazığ District]]
[[Category:Former Armenian communities in Elazığ Province]]