Diyarbakır

Located north of Mesopotamia and surrounded by Malatya, Elazığ, Bingöl, Muş, Siirt, Mardin, Urfa, Batman and Adıyaman, Diyarbakır, which carries all regional characteristics, has a total population of 1.365.000, counting both the city center and its outlying districts.

The city has a continental climate and, therefore, the winters are very cold while the summers are hot. In the warmest month of the year, temperatures average 31 degrees Celsius, and temperatures average 1.8 degrees above zero in the coldest month. To date, the highest recorded temperature in Diyarbakır has been 46.2 and the lowest has been -24.2. The average rainfall is 496 millimeters.

There are no important lakes in Diyarbakır; however Dicle (the Tigris), one of the longest rivers in Turkey, flows through a large bed in Diyarbakır. The highest point of town is the 1957-meter-high Kolubaba Peak.

The region's flora is primarily steppe plants. Forest growth is poor, except for some minor oak forests in Karaca. Cotton, wheat, barley, red lentils, tobacco, sunflowers and sesame are the main agricultural products of the region. The biggest watermelons in the country grow here (45.1 kg. in 1998).

There are regular flights from Istanbul and Ankara everyday and it is also possible to reach Diyarbakır by bus and train from almost every corner of the country. Additionally, there are taxis to and from Middle Eastern countries.

There are various sites to entertain visitors. After restoration, the historical Delliller Han has served as the Kervansaray Hotel. Dedeman Otel is the most luxurious hotel in town. The traditional cuisine can be found primarily in the Dağkapı district. Diyarbakır's most famous dish is "Kaburga" (Rib), oven-baked ribs with seasoned rice.

Diyarbakır has a 7500-year history and its downtown area has been the cradle of twenty-six different civilizations. You can see the traces of history beginning from Hurris in B.C. 3000 to the Ottoman Empire. The most important of these are the walls surrounding the city, the oldest walls in the world and the second-longest, after the Great Wall of China.

Jewelry, silk and copper working are among the traditional handicrafts of Diyarbakyır. Hasır bilezik (wicker bracelets), kişniş gerdanlık (coriander necklaces), silver-trimmed clogs and drawers are the most esteemed works of the jewelers of Diyarbakır. The jewelers are gathered at Kuyumcular Çarşısı next to Hasanpaşa Han in the Balıkçılarbaşı district, and at Eski Kuyumcular Çarşısı next to the covered bazaar. Hand-woven cloths, carpets and kilims are among the products of the villages.

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