Zonguldak Province

Zonguldak is a province along the western Black Sea coast region of Turkey. The province is 3,481 km² in size and has a population of 615,599. Its adjacent provinces are Duzce to the southwest, Bolu to the south, Karabuk to the southeast, and Bartın to the east. The capital is Zonguldak.

Since the discovery of coal in the province, Zonguldak has become a major coal production center.

Sites of interest

Ilıksu, Kapuz, Göbü beaches, National Soverignty Forest, Lake (Göl) Mountain, Plateau, Kocaman, Bostanözü, Çamlık, Baklabostan and Gürleyik forest recreation areas, Cumayanı, Kızılelma, Mencilis caves and Yukari Göynük Köyü.

Museums

Ereğli Museum
Address: Atatürk Kültür Sitesi Ereğli - Zonguldak
Tel: (372) 312 03 62
Open Daily except Mondays: 08:00 - 16:30

Cities

The most important ancient cities within Zonguldak Province are Ereğli (Heraclea Pontica), Filyos (Teion) and Yukari Göynük Köyü. Other cities include Alaplı, Devrek, Armutçuk, Gülüç

Ereğli

Ereğli was founded during the 6th century B.C. by the Mariandines, who were the successors of the Frigs. Ereğli was an important commercial wharf (emperion), which takes its name from the famous mythic hero, Hercules (Heracles). The city preserved its importance during the Roman, Byzantine, Seljukian, and Ottoman Empire periods. Important historical ruins in the region include the Acheron Valley Ruins, in which the Cehennem Ağzı Caverns are located, along with Hellenic, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman ruins, Ereğli Castle, Heracles Palace, Çeştepe Lighthouse tower, Byzantine water cisterns, Krispos mausoleum, Byzantine church, Hagia Sophia Church and Halil Paşa Mansion.

Filyos

Another ancient city, was known as Teion (or Tion) in antiquity. Ruins within its region show signs of the Roman, Byzantine and Genoan periods. The ancient port, castle, aqueducts, open-air theater and church ruins are from these periods. Filyos.Net (www.filyos.net) is an invaluable website to get information about the town.

Yukari Goynuk Koyu

Just a few kilometers further away from Filyos, Yukari Göynük Köyü is located. This village is the area where one of the first settlements of Turks occurred when Turks first entered Anatolia. The village is a place to illuminate current archeological theories of Turkish people. However, it has not yet been analyzed or excavated extensively. The village is also known as the birthtown of the famous Catukoglu Aga.

Beaches

Many natural and sandy beaches may be found along a fifty mile (80 km) stretch of the coast. Beginning from the east, these beaches include: Sazköy, Filyos, Türkali, Göbü, Hisararkası, Uzunkum, tersane, Kapuz, Karakum, Değirmenağzı, Ilıksu, Kireçlik, Armutçuk, Black Sea Ereğli, Mevreke, Alaplı and Kocaman.

Promenade

The boroughs of the city are used as daily recreation areas for leisurely hikes by regional residents. Borough are artificial lakes intended to provide drinking water or serve other industrial purposes. These broughs are: Ulutan Dam Lake at the center, Kızılcapınar Dam Lake, and Gülüç Dam Lake in Ereğli, Dereköy Pond at Çatalağzı borough and Çobanoğlu Pond (18 ha.) at Karapinar borough.

The most important waterfalls of the city are: Harmankaya at Center Kokaksu site, Değirmenağzı at Kozlu borough and Güneşli Waterfalls at Ereğli, and their environs are also used for trekking.

Caves

Cehennemağzı Cavern, Gökgöl, Kızılelma, İnağzı and Cumayanı are all notable caverns.

National & Natural Parks

Zonguldak Nature Protection Area

Significant Days

Local Days of Celebration

April 3 Anniversary of Ground Breaking for Iron and Steel Works Karabük
June 4-11 International Black Sea Ereğli Ottoman Strawberry Culture Festival
June 11-13 Festivals: Black Sea Ereğli Culture and Strawberry Festival
June 21 Commemoration day for Uzun Mehmet Zonguldak
June 21-26 Zonguldak Black Diamond Black Sea International
July 1 Maritime Day Ereğli
July 1 Cabotage Celebrations
July 1-31 International Youths Interchange Program
July 8-9 Walking Stick Festival Devrek
August 26 Visiting of Atatürk - Commemoration Day
September 3-9 16th Traditional Wrestling
September 3-9 Alaplı Hazelnut, Culture, Art and Sports Festival
November 8 Commemoration for Uzun Mehmet and Coal Celebrations Ereğli
December 4-9 World Miners' Day
Çaycuma Yogurt Culture & Art Festival Çaycuma

Festivities

June 18 Freedom from Occupation Days: Freedom Day - Ereğli
June 18-24 Music Feast
June 21 Freedom Day
July 5-7 Traditional Yenice Wrestling Competitions (Yağlı and Karakucak) Yenice
July 16-22 Devrek Walking Stick and Culture Festival
July 23-29 Circumcision Feast
August 26 Arrival of Atatürk at Zonguldak
August 31 - September 1 Traditional Wrestling Festivities Alaplı
September 3-9 Circumcision Feast

See also: Erdemir,

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