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Kocaeli
A fast highway connects Эstanbul with Izmit, the capital
of the Kocaeli province. An important city in Roman times
when it was known as Nicomedela, it is now a prosperous
industrial center. The Saatзi Efendi Konak, a restored typical
l8th century Ottoman mansion, now serves as the Ethnography
Museum. Pismaniye, the local sweet, consists of thousands
of thin layers of stretched sugar.
Hereke, west of Izmit, is a major carpet making center.
Renowned throughout the world for their beauty and quality,
these carpets fetch the highest prices in Эstanbul's bazaars.
On the Black Sea coast, north of Izmit, particularly at
Kerpe, Kefken and Kovanagzi, sandy beaches and comfortable
guest houses attract vacationers.
East of Izmit, Sakarya is the provincial capital of Adapazari,
an important agricultural and industrial region. The Sakarya
(Sangarius) River irrigates this fertile land which abounds
with fruit trees and fields of vegetables. In the city of
Adapazari itself, the Atatьrk and Ethnography Museum
displays personal effects of the founder of the Turkish
Republic as well as regional artifacts. The Beskцprь
Bridge, built by the Byzantine emperor Justinian in 553,
stretches for 429 meters across the river. Eight arches
connect the two shores.
A few kilometers away at Lake Sapanca, quiet restaurants,
hotels, and summer residences line the lakeshore. Эstanbulites
escape to this retreat in the Saman Mountain basin throughout
the year. The Artifiye Forest on the highlands of Lake Sapanca
has nice camping and picnic areas and an excellent panoramic
view of the lake below.
The Akgцl Lake lies just inland from the Black Sea
Karasu holiday center; both places offer scenic surroundings.
At Tarakli you can wander through a town that preserves
many of its old buildings.
The province of Bilecik lies southeast of Iznik in the
verdant and fertile Sakarya River Valley. In the old quarter
of the city stands the mausoleum of Seyh Edebali, who was
an important influence in the founding of the Ottoman Empire.
Every September, a commemorative ceremony and a culture
festival are held here in his honor. The Orhan Gazi Mosque
is near his tomb.
Set amid the numerous willows which give Sцgьt
its name, a detour to this town is well worth the effort.
The migrating Kayi Turks first settled here, and the tomb
of their leader Ertugrul Gazi stands in the town. In September,
a commemorative ceremony is held in his honor. Other tourist
attractions include the life-size busts of famous figures
from Turkish history and the Ethnography Museum which traces,
through its displays, the history of Turkey.
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