“BİNGÖL” There Are Several Myths About the Origin of City's Name, And
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ORIGIN OF “BİNGÖL” There are several myths about the origin of city’s name, and all are based on healing waters or lakes. Historically, Bingöl is named Cebel-ü Cur, Çapakçur, Çapakçur, Çevlik/Çolig. The first name of Bingöl is known to be Çapakçur. Evliya Çelebi, in Seyahatname, states that Çapakçur is named and established by Alexander the Great. According to the myth, even consulting his doctors to relieve unberable pain of him, Alexander the Great can not heal. Thereon he starts to look for adam’s ale which is believed to give immortality. Although he can not find the adam’s ale, he explores a river, which is believed to be raised by adam’s ale. After drinking from that river and thus relieving from his pain, he names the area Çapakçur: “River of Heaven” and builds a castle by the riverside of Murat river. In Islamic literature Bingöl is named Cebel-ü Cur. As lexical meaning, Cebel means mountain and Cur means stream, river. It is said that Cebel-ü Cur has eventually became Çapakçur. Bingöl was also named Çevlik, which means garden, yard. Çevlik is still being used today as Çolig by locals. The city, which was named Çapakçur until 1945, has been named Bingöl since then-as inspired by Bingöl Mountains- due to a legal regulation. Photo 1: General View of Bingöl Photo 2 : Sunrise on Bingöl HISTORY Although Bingöl has a rich history, we know little about the pre-Islamic era of her. Hurrians, seen on Eastern Anatolia Region in 3000BC., spread on a wide region, and had political and military struggles with Hittites; and these affected Bingöl until 2000BC. In these dates, Azzi- Hayaşa Kingdom—settled on north Elazığ and Erzincan—and İşşua Kingdom—settled on south Elazığ—were affiliated to Hittites. Due to proximity to these kingdoms and being on transition area, Bingöl was affected by these kingdoms, both politically and culturally. With Hittites and Hurrians being withdrawn from the stage of history arround 1200BC., local principalities had started to dominate the area. Formed as little city-states, these principalities are stated as “Nairi States” in Assyrian sources. Nairi States form Urartu State by organizing as a confederation in 900BC., against attacks of strong Assyria Kingdom. At short notice, Urartians became one of the strongest and most organized states of it’s era and Bingöl became a city within the boundaries of Urartians. Urartians, forming an advanced civilization, built a wide range of road network to expand and control trade. Bingöl was on a strategic location in this road network, which connected east to west. Today, the most well-preserved part of the Urartian Path can be seen on wide plains in south of Bingöl-Elazığ main road. From this point, the Road— approximately 5.40m width—lies on a route towards west, through Karakoçan-Palu-Harput to Malatya. Urartians built outposts on strategic points to secure the road network and trade. There are still some castle ruins—which has been built as Urartian outposts— and they can be seen on commanding heights along Urartian Path. Photo 3: Urartu Path After the collapse of Urartu State in 600BC., the region was dominated in turn by; Meds, Persians and Komagenes. Bingöl, which was ruled by Roman Empire in 100BC., fell under Byzantium Empire boundaries by separation of Roman Empire. The region was ruled by Byzantium Empire who dominated principalities untill 1000AC. Zağ Caves, close to Kuşburnu Village in central, were secret place for local Christians to live and worship around 500AC. Photo4 : Kiğı Çanakçı Surp Giragos Church The city, which was dominated by Seljuk Empire after Battle of Manzikert in 1071, was dominated in turn by; Artuqids, Ayyubids, Ilkhanids, Kara Koyunlus and Ak Koyunlus untill the Ottoman period. From 1080 to 1121, the region was captured by Artuqids. After Artuqids, Ayyubids and Ilkhanids dominated the region for a short period, which was followed by Ak Koyunlu’s domination on the region. Ak Koyunlus-with the domination and strength they had in 1400- left significant artifacts especially in Kiğı, Adaklı and Genç. After defeat of Uzun Hassan in Battle of Otlukbeli in 1474 by Mehmed the Conqueror, the region started to be ruled by Ottomans. Although Shah İsmail captured the region after Mehmed the Conqueror’s death, after his defeat in Battle of Çaldıran by Selim I region was ruled by Ottomans again. Bingöl completely fell under Ottoman boundaries in 1515. Photo 5 : Selenk Bridge With The Republic, Bingöl became a province in 1936, and in 1945, its name has been changed from Çapakçur to Bingöl. ABOUT BİNGÖL Surrounded by provinces Erzincan and Erzurum in north, Muş in east, Diyarbakır in south, Elazığ and Tunceli in west, Bingöl is on Iran Transit Route-which is one of the main highways from east to west. The city, which is in Upper Euphrates Side of Eastern Anatolian Region, has 1151m of altitude and 8125,3km2 of survey. Bingöl has 8 counties, 11 municipalities, and 319 villages. It’s total population in 2014 is 266.019 and the distribution of its population is shown in chart below: COUNTIES POPULATION Central 147.087 Genç 34.894 Solhan 33.256 Adaklı 8.905 Karlıova 31.467 Kiğı 5.496 Yayladere 1.957 Yedisu 2.957 As well as the climate changes depending on counties and topograhy, Bingöl has a continental climate. With hot, arid summers and cold, harsh winters , average annual temperature is 12 °C. Glacial lakes on Bingöl Mountains indicates that the region was once covered with glaciers in Ice Age. Bingöl mostly has rough and high terrains, which is occupied by hills and mountains higher than 2000m. Its highest mountain is Bingöl Mountains with it’s 3250m height. Bingöl is one of the cities in Eastern Anatolian Region that has the richest forestland . FLOATING ISLAND Floating Island, located on Aksakal Lake Field of Hazerşah Village in Solhan County, can be reached by Hazerşah Village’s road, which is turning to north on approximately 65.km of Bingöl- Solhan-Muş main road. Floating Island is discovered by local people and has a unique natural beauty. Floating Island is completely natural and located on a plain that surrounded by mountains and hills on its three sides. There are three completely separate islands on the lake and each of them are motile. With its great nature, extraordinary view and fresh air indigenous to Bingöl uplands Floating Island is not just a picnic site, it is a must-see place in entire region. Photo 6: Floating Island SUNRISE ON KALA HİLL As a part of Bingöl Mountains and with its 3250m height, you can reach to its falls by road. Especially from 15th of July to 15th of August in every year, significant number of domestic and foreign tourists visit the hill, where they can watch sunrise. On this hill, sun makes people feel unusual emotions when it starts to rise. Appearing as a glow at first, the sun makes a colourful harmony from darkness to ember untill it is fully formed and arouses feelings like fear, thrill, enthusiasm, astonishment and admiration. Not just for the sunrise as an unique and fascinating natural event, also for its natural beauty Kala Hill is a must-see place of the region. Photo 7: Sunrise ÇIR FALL 8km to Ilıcalar town in central, Çır Fall has an impressive natural beauty by its appearance. The area—with Big Çır Rock in it—has rocky terrains and natural caves, where birds of prey live. The area also gains importance as a wildlife area. Photo 8: Çır Fall ZAĞ CAVES Zağ Caves can be reached by Gökçeli-Kuşburnu Village’s road, which is on approximately 18.km of Bingöl-Solhan-Muş main road. Zağ Caves consist of rooms that spread on front site of natural rocky mass. These rooms are artifactual, connected with stepped passages and multiplex. The caves are dated to 400BC.—Early Christian Era. In this era, Zağ Caves were a living space and a prayer place for Christian communities that were under pressure of Roman Empire. From the first room in lower floor by following stepped passages and staircases you can reach to top floor. Including lower floor, the caves have a total of five floors. Some of rooms have been coated with cube shaped pits carved into base of bedrock, which are used as grain and liquid storage. Some of the pits are also used as offering pits, and terraces can be seen in some rooms. From these, it is understood that some of the rooms were used as daily living place, some as kitchen/storage and some as prayer place. Photo 9: Zağ Caves Photo 10: Zağ Caves BUBAN FLUES Photo 11: Buban Flues (Oğuldere Village) YOLÇATI(ŞARGE) SKI FACILITIES Yolçatı Ski Facilities are in Yolçatı(Şarge) Village, which is on 22.km of Bingöl-Elazığ main road. The facility’s ski track has approximately 950m length and 100m width. As well as having a great natural view, with its modern facilities—including accomodation, catering and recreation places— Yolçatı offers breathtaking beauties to its visiters. Photo 12: Yolçatı Ski Facilities ILICA(KÖS) THERMAL SPRINGS Ilıca Thermal Springs which are on Bingöl-Karlıova faultline are in Ilıcalar Town, on 20.km of Bingöl-Erzurum main road. The temperature of the thermal spring’s water is approximately 45°C. The Kös Thermal Springs, which is also an important spot for health tourism, host domestic and foreign guests all year round. Studies about chemical properties of thermal water were done by İstanbul University, İstanbul Technical University and Refik Saydam Sanitation Center. It was stated that the thermal water can be helpful in treatment of bone diseases, tooth decay, gastroenteritis, urinary tract diseases, neurological diseases, gout, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, gynaecological diseases and lack of fluorine due to nutrition.