Ankara

Ankara is the capital city of Turkey and the country's second-largest city by population after Istanbul. It is located in the central part of Anatolia and has over 5.3 million residents in its urban center. The city has a rich history, having served as the capital of many empires and states over the centuries.

Ankara was historically known as Ancyra and Angora. It was the capital of the ancient Celtic state of Galatia and later of the Roman province with the same name. The Ottomans made the city the capital of several regions before it became the new Turkish capital in 1923, following the fall of the Ottoman Empire.

Today, Ankara is an important government, commercial, and industrial city. It is located at the center of Turkey's road and railway networks. The city is also known for its Angora wool, Angora rabbits, Angora goats, and Angora cats. Despite being in a dry region, Ankara has many green spaces and is home to numerous universities.

Etymology

The name Ankara has changed over time. In ancient times, it was called Ánkyra in Greek and Ancyra in Latin. After the Seljuk Turks took control in 1073, it became known in many European languages as Angora, and in Ottoman Turkish as Engürü. The name "Angora" is still used today in the names of some animal breeds and places in the United States, like Angora.

History

Main article: History of Ankara

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of Ankara.

The history of Ankara goes back to very old times. It was home to many different groups over the years, including the Hittites, Phrygians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and Turks.

Ankara grew a lot under the Romans and became an important city. It was a key place for trade and travel. Many important buildings from that time still exist today.

Later, Ankara was part of the Byzantine Empire and then the Ottoman Empire. In the early 1920s, it became the capital of modern Turkey after a big struggle for independence led by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Since then, Ankara has grown into a large, modern city with many government buildings and offices.

Geography

Ankara is found between the Kızılırmak and Sakarya River. The Sakarya River forms a border with Eskişehir to the west. Ankara shares borders with Bolu and Çankırı to the north, Konya to the south, and Kırıkkale to the east.

Ankara and its area are in the Central Anatolia Region of Turkey. The Çubuk Brook runs through the city center and connects to the Ankara River in the west, which is part of the larger Sakarya River system.

Climate

Ankara has cold winters with snow and hot, dry summers. Rain mostly falls in spring and autumn. The city gets about 414 millimeters (16 inches) of rain each year. Temperatures usually range from 0.9 °C (33.6 °F) in January to 24.3 °C (75.7 °F) in July, with an average of 12.6 °C (54.7 °F) throughout the year.

Demographics

Ankara started with a population of 75,000 in 1927. By 2022, the number of people living in Ankara Province grew to over 5.7 million. The city was planned for 500,000 people when it became the capital of Turkey in 1923, but it grew much faster than expected. Many people moved to the city from the countryside looking for better lives, leading to the building of many informal homes called gecekondu.

Over time, many of these informal homes have been replaced by large housing projects, including tower blocks such as Elvankent, Eryaman, and Güzelkent, as well as housing for military and government workers. Even though some informal homes remain, they are slowly being replaced as space in the city becomes limited.

Cities like Çorum and Yozgat in Central Anatolia have seen many people move to Ankara. The literacy rate for people aged 15 and older in Ankara Province is very high at 98.18%. Ankara also has the largest share of university graduates in Turkey, with about 29% of its population holding a degree.

Economy and infrastructure

Ankara has been a productive area for growing crops like grain, cotton, and fruits for a long time. The city is well known for its special products, such as mohair from the Angora goat and Angora wool from the Angora rabbit. In the past, Ankara also sent out goods like goat and cat skins, gum, wax, honey, berries, and madder root to other places. It was linked to Istanbul by train before the First World War.

The area around Ankara is famous for growing grapes and making wine, especially Kalecik Karası and Muscat grapes, as well as Kavaklıdere wine. Ankara is also known for its pears and a special kind of light-colored honey called Ankara Balı, mostly made at the Atatürk Forest Farm and Zoo.

Ankara is an important place for defence and aerospace companies, with many big firms based there. These companies sell their products to other countries. The city also has factories for car and bus makers, like the German company MAN SE. There is a big area called the OSTIM Industrial Zone, which is Turkey’s largest industrial park.

Many people in Ankara work for the government, in offices and ministries. There are also people from other countries working in their embassies.

Transportation

See also: Ankara Metro, Ankara railway station, Ankara Esenboğa Airport, and List of airports in Ankara

The Electricity, Gas, Bus General Directorate (EGO) runs the Ankara Metro and other public transport in the city. Ankara has a suburban railway called Başkentray (B1), one light rail transit line called Ankaray (A1), and two Metro lines (M1-M2-M3, M4) with about 400,000 people using them each day. More lines (A2, M5, M6, M7, M8) are being planned.

Ankara Central Station is a big train station in Turkey. The Turkish State Railways runs trains from Ankara to cities like Istanbul, Eskişehir, Balıkesir, Kütahya, İzmir, Kayseri, Adana, Kars, Elazığ, Malatya, Diyarbakır, Karabük, Zonguldak, and Sivas. Trains also run between Sincan and Kayaş. On March 13, 2009, fast trains started running between Ankara and Eskişehir. On August 23, 2011, fast trains began running between Ankara and Konya. On July 25, 2014, fast trains started running between Ankara and Istanbul.

Ankara Esenboğa Airport, north-east of the city, is the main airport. The AŞTİ is the main coach terminal.

Ankara public transportation statistics

People in Ankara spend about 71 minutes each weekday using public transport. About 17% of passengers travel for more than two hours each day. The average waiting time at a stop or station is sixteen minutes, but 28% of people wait over twenty minutes. People usually travel about 9.9 km (6.2 mi) in one trip, and 27% travel more than 12 km (7.5 mi) in one direction.

Esenboğa International Airport

Politics

Since April 8, 2019, the mayor of Ankara has been Mansur Yavaş from the Republican People's Party (CHP). He won the mayoral election that year.

Ankara is an important city in Turkish politics. It is a key area where different political groups compete. The main groups are the ruling conservative AK Party, the opposition Kemalist center-left Republican People's Party (CHP), and the nationalist far-right MHP. The city is divided into 25 districts. For a long time, the CHP had strong support in the central area of Çankaya, the city's most populous district. However, the AK Party has had the most support overall in Ankara.

The city faced difficult times with some serious events in 2015 and 2016, and it was also affected by events in July 2016.

Melih Gökçek was the mayor of Ankara from 1994 to 2017. He was re-elected several times. In the 2014 election, he won by a very small margin against Mansur Yavaş. However, there were claims of problems with the vote. After Gökçek resigned in 2017, Mansur Yavaş became the mayor after winning the election in 2019.

Main sights

The foundations of the Ankara castle and citadel were laid by the Galatians and completed by the Romans. The Byzantines and Seljuks added to it later. The area around the citadel contains many examples of traditional architecture, with restored Turkish houses now serving as restaurants. The citadel appeared on Turkish banknotes from 1927 to 1952 and again from 1983 to 1989.

You can see the remains of the Antique Rome theatre of Ankara outside the castle, with Roman statues displayed in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. The Temple of Augustus and Rome was built between 25 and 20 BC after the Roman Empire conquered Central Anatolia. The Roman Baths of Ankara include a cold room, a warm room, and a hot room, built to honor the God of Medicine during the rule of the Roman emperor Caracalla.

Kocatepe Mosque, the largest mosque in Ankara, was built between 1967 and 1987. Ahmet Hamdi Akseki Mosque, completed in 2013, can hold thousands of people. The Hacı Bayram Mosque was built in the early 1400s, and the Alâeddin Mosque is Ankara's oldest mosque.

Ankara has many monuments, including the Victory Monument from 1927, which shows Mustafa Kemal Atatürk on horseback. The Hittite Sun Course Monument from 1978 marks an important ancient civilization.

Historical inns like Suluhan and Çengelhan Rahmi M. Koç Museum show Ottoman architecture and host interesting exhibits.

Shopping

Foreign visitors to Ankara often enjoy exploring the old shops on Çıkrıkçılar Yokuşu (Weavers' Road) near Ulus. Here, they can find many traditional items like fabrics, hand-woven carpets, and leather products at great prices. Bakırcılar Çarşısı (Bazaar of Coppersmiths) is very popular, offering jewelry, carpets, costumes, antiques, and embroidery, not just copper items. Up the hill near the castle gate, shops sell fresh spices, dried fruits, nuts, and other local produce.

Modern shopping areas are mainly in Kızılay or along Tunalı Hilmi Avenue. Here you’ll find the modern Karum mall, named after ancient Assyrian merchant colonies called Kârum in central Anatolia from the 2nd millennium BC. In Çankaya, the highest part of the city, Atakule Tower next to Atrium Mall offers great views of Ankara and has a revolving restaurant. The Armada Shopping Mall features a large anchor monument, linking to the ancient Greek name of the city, Ἄγκυρα (Ánkyra), meaning anchor.

As Ankara grew westward in the 1970s, new shopping areas appeared along the western highway, known as the Eskişehir Road. Malls like Armada, CEPA, and Kentpark along the highway, Galleria, Arcadium, and Gordion in Ümitköy, and a large mall called Real in Bilkent Center provide a mix of North American and European shopping styles. The ANKAmall on the Istanbul Highway is the largest mall in the Ankara area and features many international brands. In 2014, new malls like Next Level and Taurus opened along the Mevlana Boulevard (also called Konya Road).

Culture

Ankara is a rich city for the arts. The Turkish State Opera and Ballet is based here, with three main performance spaces including the large Ankara Opera House. The city also has five classical music orchestras, such as the Presidential Symphony Orchestra and the Bilkent Symphony Orchestra. There are four concert halls, and many music, theater, and film festivals happen each year.

Ankara has about 50 museums. One of the most famous is the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, which shows artifacts from ancient times. Anıtkabir is the grand mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of Turkey. The Ankara Aviation Museum displays historic airplanes and aviation equipment. Other museums include the modern-art Cermodern, the Ankara Ethnography Museum, and the State Art and Sculpture Museum.

Football is the most popular sport in Ankara. Teams like Gençlerbirliği and Ankaragücü play in Turkey’s top leagues. Ankara also has teams in basketball, volleyball, and ice skating. The THF Sport Hall is a key place for handball games in the city.

Parks

Ankara has many beautiful parks and open spaces. These parks were created in the early days of the country and have been well cared for and grown since then. Some of the most important parks include Gençlik Parkı, which has an amusement park and a large pond for rowing boats, and Kuğulu Park, known for its swans that were a gift from the Chinese government.

Atatürk Forest Farm and Zoo is a large area where families can spend a fun day. It includes a zoo, small farms, greenhouses, restaurants, and a dairy farm. Visitors can enjoy picnics, hiking, biking, and tasty food like old-fashioned beer and ice cream, fresh dairy products, and meat rolls cooked over charcoal. There is also a copy of the house where the country's leader was born in Thessaloniki, Greece.

Education

Main article: Education in Ankara

Universities

Ankara is well known in Turkey for having many universities. Some of the most well-known ones include:

• Ankara University
• Atılım University
• Başkent University
• Bilkent University
• Çankaya University
• Gazi University
• Hacettepe University
• Middle East Technical University
• TED University
• TOBB University of Economics and Technology
• Ufuk University
• Yıldırım Beyazıt University

Fauna

Angora cat

Main article: Turkish Angora

Ankara is famous for a special kind of cat called the Turkish Angora. These cats come from Ankara and the area around it in central Turkey. They have a beautiful white, silky coat that is medium to long in length. Turkish Angoras can also be found in many other colors besides white, like black, blue, and reddish. Their eyes can be blue, green, or a mix of colors. They have large, pointed ears and a big head.

Angora goat

Main article: Angora goat

The Angora goat comes from Ankara and the surrounding region in central Turkey. These goats were first brought to Europe in the 1500s and later to the United States. Angora goats are raised for their special coat called mohair, which is very fine and soft. Each goat can produce between five and eight kilograms of hair each year. They are sheared twice a year to get their mohair.

Angora rabbit

Main article: Angora rabbit

The Angora rabbit is another animal from Ankara and its surrounding area. These rabbits are raised for their long, soft fur called Angora wool. They have a funny look, like a ball of fur, and are usually calm and gentle. Their fur needs regular care to keep it from getting tangled. Angora rabbits have been popular pets for many years and are found in many places around the world.

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Turkey

Twin towns and sister cities

Ankara has friendly relationships with many cities around the world. Some of these cities are:

• Seoul, South Korea (since 1971)
• Islamabad, Pakistan (since 1982)
• Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (since 1984)
• Beijing, China (since 1990)
• Amman, Jordan (since 1992)
• Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (since 1992)
• Budapest, Hungary (since 1992)
• Khartoum, Sudan (since 1992)
• Moscow, Russia (since 1992)
• Sofia, Bulgaria (since 1992)
• Havana, Cuba (since 1993)
• Kyiv, Ukraine (since 1993)
• Ashgabat, Turkmenistan (since 1994)
• Kuwait City, Kuwait (since 1994)
• Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (since 1994)
• Tirana, Albania (since 1995)
• Tbilisi, Georgia (since 1996)
• Ufa, Bashkortostan, Russia (since 1997)
• Alanya, Turkey
• Bucharest, Romania (since 1998)
• Hanoi, Vietnam (since 1998)
• Manama, Bahrain (since 2000)
• Mogadishu, Somalia (since 2000)
• Santiago, Chile (since 2000)
• Astana, Kazakhstan (since 2001)
• Dushanbe, Tajikistan (since 2003)
• Kabul, Afghanistan (since 2003)
• Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (since 2003)
• Cairo, Egypt (since 2004)
• Chișinău, Moldova (since 2004)
• Sanaa, Yemen (since 2004)
• Tashkent, Uzbekistan (since 2004)
• Pristina, Kosovo (since 2005)
• Kazan, Tatarstan, Russia (since 2005)
• Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (since 2005)
• Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (since 2006)
• Minsk, Belarus (since 2007)
• Zagreb, Croatia (since 2008)
• Damascus, Syria (since 2010)
• Bissau, Guinea-Bissau (since 2011)
• Washington, D.C., US (since 2011)
• Bangkok, Thailand (since 2012)
• Tehran, Iran (since 2013)
• Doha, Qatar (since 2016)
• Podgorica, Montenegro (since 7 March 2019)
• North Nicosia, Cyprus/Northern Cyprus
• Djibouti City, Djibouti (since 2017)

Partner cities

• Skopje, North Macedonia (since 1995)
• Vienna, Austria

List of notable people

Main article: List of people from Ankara

Ankara has been home to many famous people throughout history. This list includes individuals who were born in or lived in Ankara and have made significant contributions in various fields.