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Coordinates: 39°44′27″N 27°49′09″E

Balıkesir Province
Balıkesir Province (Turkish: Balıkesir ili) is a
province in northwestern Turkey with coastlines on both Balıkesir Province
the Sea of Marmara and the Aegean. Its adjacent Balıkes r l
provinces are Çanakkale to the west, İzmir to the Province of Turkey
southwest, Manisa to the south, Kütahya to the
southeast, and Bursa to the east. The provincial capital is
Balıkesir. Most of the province lies in the Marmara
Region except the southern parts of Bigadiç Edremit,
Kepsut, İvrindi, Savaştepe and Sındırgı districts and ones
of Ayvalık, Burhaniye, Dursunbey, Gömeç and Havran,
that bound the Aegean Region. Kaz Dağı (pronounced
[kaz daːɯ]), known also as Mount Ida, is located in this
province. Balıkesir province is famous for its olives, Location of Balıkesir Province in Turkey
thermal spas, and clean beaches, making it an important Country Turkey
tourist destination. The province also hosts immense Region West Marmara
deposits of kaolinite and borax, with some open-pit Subregion Balıkesir
mines. The Kaz mountains are also threatened with the Government
expansion of gold mining using cyanide which puts the • Electoral district Balıkesir
villagers' lives, the agricultural economy, and tourism at • Governor Hasan Şıldak
risk.
Area
The capital of the Balıkesir Province is Balıkesir City. • Total 12,496 km2
(4,825 sq mi)
Population (2018)[1]
Contents • Total
• Density
1,226,575
98/km2 (250/sq mi)
Districts Area code(s) 00266*******
Tourism Vehicle 10
Sites of interest registration
Ancient sites
Museums
National parks
Beaches
Thermal tourism
Education
Transportation and accommodation
Economy
Agriculture
Mining
Sports
Culture
Memorial days
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Cuisine
Souvenirs
Traditional folk dances
See also
References
External links

Districts
There are 20 district in Balıkesir Province under the Balıkesir Metropolitan Municipality.[2]

Altıeylül Gönen
Ayvalık Havran
Balya İvrindi
Bandırma Karesi
Bigadiç Kepsut
Burhaniye Manyas
Dursunbey Marmara
Edremit Savaştepe
Erdek Sındırgı
Gömeç Susurluk

Ayvalık Islands Ören Beach, Burhaniye The historical clock tower

Tourism

Sites of interest

Balıkesir is home to a number of natural attractions, including Kuş Cenneti (bird sanctuary) National
Park; the bays of Erdek, Bandırma, and Edremit; Ayvalık's coastal beaches; Şeytan Sofrası, Marmara
Islands, Alibey (Cunda) Island; the Erdek and Gönen open-air museums; Pamukçu-Bengi, Balya Dağ,
Hisar, Hisarköy (Asarköy), Karağaç (Uyuz), Kepekler hot springs, Dutluca Village mineral springs, and
Zeytinli Ada hot springs and mineral water springs.
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Among the cultural attractions of Balıkesir are the ruins of Cyzicus

and Saraylar on the Sea of Marmara, Dascylium (near
Bandırma/Ereğli), and Antandrus (near Edremit/Altınoluk);
Balıkesir's Yıldırım Mosque (Eski Cami), the Zagan Pasha Mosque
complex, Clocked Church Mosque and quantity of Ottoman
vernacular architecture at Ayvalık, and Alibey Mosque (Çınarlı
Cami). The Kuş Cenneti National Park near Lake Manyas is an
ornithological site where 266 different species of birds flourish –
every year over three million birds fly through there. There are horse
breeding farms 13 km southeast of Bandırma, in Karacabey. Amphitheatre of Cyzicus

There are a city museum and a fine arts centre in Balıkesir. Also,
there are several camping facilities in Erdek, Altınoluk, Akçay, Güre,
and Ören.[3]

Ancient sites
Adramyttium
Antandrus
Dascylium
Cyzicus
Lyrnessus
Pordoselene
Thebe Hypoplakia
Zeleia

Museums
Balıkesir Kuvayi Milliye Museum
Bandırma Archaeological Museum
Edremit Ayşe Sıdıka Erke Ethnography Museum
Balıkesir National Photography Museum
Edremit Tahtakuşlar Ethnography Museum
Gönen Mosaic Museum
Balıkesir Municipality's Devrim Erbil Modern Arts Museum
Bigadiç Museum House
Marmara District Palaces Open Air Museum
Altınoluk Antardos Open Air Museum
Erdek Belkıs Ruins Open Air Museum

National parks
Erdek Kapıdağ Region
Kaz Dağı National Park
Kuş Cenneti National Park
Alaçam Mountains

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Ayvalık Islands Natural Park

Madra Mountains

Beaches

Balıkesir have coastlines both Sea of Marmara and Aegen Sea. Edremit, Burhaniye, Gömeç and Ayvalık
are the districts which are popular for their beaches, located in the Aegean coast of the Balıkesir;
Marmara Island, Erdek, Gönen and Bandırma are the districts that are located in the Marmara coast of
Balıkesir.

Around the Gulf of Edremit in Balıkesir province are some of the coastlines where encircled by clear
waters and sandy beaches and silvery green olive groves. Ayvalık, a holiday towns on this coastline, is
located in the midst of pine and olive trees. Its houses ornamented with wood and stone. Cunda Island,
linked to Ayvalık via a bridge, is known for its sunsets, seafood and taverns. Şeytan Sofrası (Devil's
Table), so called because it is set on a tableshaped hill formed from lava, offers a panoramic view over
the 22 islands in Ayvalık Bay. A footprint, enclosed by iron bars, is said to be that of the devil himself.
There are sandy beaches approximately 6 km south of the town in the Sarımsaklı area. Altınkum,
meaning "golden sand", is a beach in this district. It has restaurants and bars for entertainment. There is
also an attractive street market in the centre of the resort and lots of shops.[4]

Burhaniye, Ören, Edremit, Akçay and Altınoluk are also among the holiday towns which attract
vacationers interested in a holiday with scenery and historical, archaeological sites.

Thermal tourism

Balıkesir and its districts, besides the wealth of thermal resources, have healing waters with reputed
physical and chemical compositions.[5]

Many spas which claim to have health-promoting features surround the city, including Pamukçu and
Ilıca. The center of the city also contains the historical Turkish "Pasha Hamami" bath, which is still in
use. Some of these thermal resources located in;

Pamukçu, Kiraz, Edremit-Güre, Edremit-Bostancı, Edremit-Derman, Gönen, Gönen-Ekşidere, Manyas-

Kızık Köy, Susurluk-Kepekler, Balya-Dağ, Bigadiç-Hisarköy, Sındırgı-Hisaralan, Sındırgı-Emendere and
Dursunbey-Aşağımusalar Village.[6]

55 km southwest of Bandırma is Gönen, one of Turkey’s most important thermal resorts. The fact that
the springs were used even in Roman times is witnessed by a 5th-century mosaic from what was
originally a Roman bath. The waters come from 500 m below ground surfacing at a temperature of
approximately 82°C.

Education
There are two universities in Balıkesir Province;

Balıkesir University
Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University

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The foundation of Balıkesir University trace back to Karesi Teacher

School established in 1910. This school has been carried to the
building which is used as Necatibey Faculty of Education with
particular interests of the Minister of Education, Mustafa Necati. Till
1982, the number of higher education institutes reached 4: Necati
Institution of Education, Architecture and Engineering State
Academy, Balıkesir School of Industry and Tourism, Balıkesir
Vocational School. These foundations changed status with Delegated
Legislation No 41 and were connected to Uludağ University.
Balıkesir Faculty of Fine Arts
Necatibey Teacher’s Training School continued to train teachers
between the years 1932 and 1982 under the name of Necati
Institution of Education, left its 3-year status, received 4-year-
Higher Teacher Training School status. In 1982, having been connected to Uludağ University, this
foundation has been called Necatibey Faculty of Education.

In the same way, the name of Balıkesir School of Industry and Tourism has been changed as Balıkesir
School of Tourism and Hotel Management, but the name of 2-year-Balıkesir Vocational School has
remained the same. Having stayed under the roof of Uludağ University for 10 years, these foundations
have formed a powerful background for Balıkesir University with healthy and consistent development.

Balıkesir University has 37.000,[7] Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University has more than 13.500 students.[8]

Also, some of the scientists were born in Balıkesir. One of the most known is Selman Akbulut the Turkish
mathematician, specializing in research in topology, and geometry and which is a student of Robion
Kirby.

Transportation and accommodation

Balıkesir is a city that has shores on the Aegean and Marmara Seas.
It is easy to reach from Ankara, İstanbul, Bursa and İzmir by
motorway or railway. There are regular coaches from İstanbul,
Ankara and İzmir.[9]

Balıkesir has many small coastal towns. To make transportation

comfortable, railway transport is done between Ankara-Balıkesir
and İzmir-Balikesir at specific hours. Balıkesir is joined to Bursa and Balıkesir Koca Seyit Airport
İzmir by a quality motorway.

Also, there is the Koca Seyit Airport. On account of the airport, Balıkesir Coach Terminal is out of the city
so that there is servicing by the municipality to the city centre. On the other hand, the Railway Station is
at Republica Square.

Economy
The economic base of the city is both agricultural and industrial. The biggest industrial enterprises are
Arı-Turyağ, Limak-Set Çimento, BEST, Mar-Tük, İşbir, Kula, Tellioğlu, Bu Piliç and Yarış Kabin which
are among the first thousand factories in Turkey as of 2008. Balıkesir city is also important for stock
breeding. Surrounding the city, are numerous dairies. The city is also an agricultural centre. Wheat,

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sunflowers, sugar beets, and other vegetables in a front tomato and bean plantations have dense
products. Traditional crops are melon and grapes. Balıkesir with its districts is the 12th largest economy
in the Turkish economy. Also, it is called the Anatolian Tigers.

Agriculture

Other main exports are olive-based products. It is also a destination for both domestic and foreign
tourists, who use it as a base to explore the near countryside, especially nearby Mount Ida (Kaz Dağı).[10]

Mining

The city is well known with borax deposit. The largest global borax deposits known, many still untapped,
are in Central and Western Turkey, including the provinces of Eskişehir, Kütahya and Balıkesir. Besides,
Turkey and the United States are the largest producers of boron products. Turkey produces about half of
the global yearly demand with the known deposits which possesses 72% of the world.

Sports
Many sportspeople were born in Balıkesir. Some of them are;

Cengiz Ünder - Football player

Caner Erkin - Football player
Egemen Korkmaz – Football player
İlhan Eker – Football player
Olcan Adın – Football player
Oğuz Savaş – Basketball player
Şafak Edge – Basketball player
Tülin Altıntaş – Volleyball player

Most known sports club in Balıkesir is Balıkesirspor which is established in 1966. Balıkesirspor is the
football team played in the Süper Lig after achieving promotion having finished as runners-up of the TFF
First League in 2013–14. The team's previous promotion was 40 years before that. Their stadium, the all-
seater Balıkesir Atatürk Stadium, has a capacity of 13,732.[11]

Culture
Many theatre players, actor, actress, singer and painter were born in
Balıkesir. Most known are;

Fikret Hakan – Actor

Şevket Altuğ - Actor
Necdet Tosun - Actor
Erdal Tosun - Actor
Reha Yurdakul - Actor Salih Tozan Culture and Art
Tamer Yigit - Actor Center[12]
İlker Ayrık - Actor

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Barış Falay - Actor

Hande Erçel - Actress and model
Zerrin Tekindor - Actress and artist
Tuğçe Kazaz - Actress and model
Orhan İslimyeli - Cartoonist

Memorial days

The major memorial days of Balıkesir are Hıdrellez, The Liberation Day and also The Remembrance
Day of Local Combat.

Hıdrellez is by tradition celebrated in the first week of May for those who live in Balıkesir. Today, it is the
fulfillment of a religious ritual that is celebrated as a day of goodness. The night on the streets there is a
fire, and one of the traditions is to jump over the fire seven times. That night going to such green and
restful areas as Değirmenboğazı and Balıkesir Park or near the religious area like tombs is also a ritual
of Hıdrellez. People wish midnight and meet there. Accordingly, Hıdrellez day people have offerings.
Drawing a picture of something that is desired to land or stone is determined. Individuals seeking goods
put money into a red purse and hang it on a tree. On the other hand, those wishing for a baby type the
name or draws baby figure on the ground. These rituals are traditions of Hıdrellez. One of the
superstitions is that if someone takes a shower that night, he or she is protected from all diseases.
Hıdrellez is a kind of Newroz or Spring New Years.

The Liberation Day from the enemy occupation of Balıkesir is 6 September

in 1922. Every year, 6 September is celebrating the day as a local holiday.
There are a celebration parade and a celebratory ceremony. The ceremony
takes place on Stadium Street. In the past, the previous night of 6
September, the main streets of Balıkesir were washed with cologne with
lilies, because lilies are a symbol of Balıkesir. This festival is celebrated with
great enthusiasm. For two or three days, the people would come from the
nearby villages and districts to celebrating. On 6 September morning,
people in Balıkesir would picnic in advance of the festival, at Balıkesir Park.
The festival evening, a great torchlight procession is organized. Tülü
Tabaklar which had designed similarly the cannibals to frighten the
enemies is a special event of the festival.

The Remembrance Day of Local Combat is called Kuvayi Milliye Haftası in

Turkish which is organized between 16–23 May. The great success with 41
Balıkesirer people met at Alaca Mescit and they have managed the region 18th-century Caucasian
such as a state and gained a military victory in 1922. 15 May 1919, after the Kilim, likely from Balıkesir
capture of İzmir by the Greeks, Balıkesir is the first place in Turkey that the Province
reaction of Balıkesir had shown by declared Redd-i Ilhak (Disclamation of
Annexation). In 1919, the city of Balikesir Congress was met five times.
Greek soldiers on 30 June 1920 was occupied Balıkesir. By had opened Ayvalik-İvrindi-Soma-Balikesir-
front, Balıkesir had its liberation. Traditional folk dancers in Balikesir

Cuisine

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Balıkesir's local cheese, called Kelle Peyniri, is known in European countries and exported France,
Germany and Britain. It is a granular type of cheese. Hoşmerim which is made from cheese and egg is
the popular dessert of this city. Many old Turkmen dishes (like keşkek, güveç, tirit, mantı, kaymaklı) are
composed of Balıkesir cuisine.[13]

Souvenirs

The main souvenir of the city is lily cologne and hoşmerim. Balıkesir's Turkmen carpets (called
Yağcıbedir) are another popular local good. Sındırgı is a region popular for the weaving of this Turkish
carpets. The rugs of Yağcıbedir are among the most prized in the country.

Traditional folk dances

Balıkesir is a historical folkloric dance source. Balıkesir's historical folkloric dance is most popular in
Turkey and academical searching. Bengi, Guvende and Balikesir Zeybeği are a typical dance of this city.
These dances' figures spread throughout Balıkesir plainness. Also, Balikesir's ballads are popular in
Turkey. Akpınar, Mendili Oyaladım, Karyolamın Demiri are some ballads sing by women surround
Balikesir city. Like these woman ballads, on the other hand, have dance figures in terms of traditional
dancing. Although Balıkesir is an industrial region, traditional village culture is superb and deeply. So,
for folk culture, Balıkesir is an important area in Turkey. Balıkesir's local dance came to first in Nice folk
festival joined 21 countries at 1958 be of value by European academical folklore authorities. Also,
Balıkesir's local zeibek dance was the first zeibek participation from Turkey which had seen European
folk authorities. Nowadays, Balıkesir folklore is chosen "intangible cultural heritage" of Turkey by the
Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

See also
Balıkesir
Marmara Region

References
1. "Population of provinces by years - 2000-2018" (http://www.turkstat.gov.tr/PreIstatistikTablo.do?istab
_id=1590). Turkish Statistical Institute. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
2. "Jurisdiction of Balıkesir Metropolitan Municipality" (https://www.balikesir.bel.tr/kurumsal/yetki-alani).
balikesir.bel.tr.
3. "Ancient sites and towns in Balıkesir" (http://www.balikesir.gov.tr/antik-kentler). balikesir.gov.tr.
4. "Balıkesir" (https://www.goturkey.com/destinations/balikesir). Go Turkey. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
5. "Termalism in Balıkesir" (http://www.balikesir.gov.tr/termalizm). balikesir.gov.tr.
6. "Termalism in Balikesir" (http://www.balikesir.gov.tr/termalizm). Governorship of Balıkesir.
7. "Balıkesir University - About" (http://www.balikesir.edu.tr/site/index?lang=en). balikesir.edu.
8. "Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University - About" (https://studyin.bandirma.edu.tr/en). bandirma.edu.
9. "Transportation in Balıkesir" (https://www.balikesir.bel.tr/calismalar/ulasim-yonetimi). balikesir.bel.tr.
10. "Agriculture in Balıkesir" (http://www.balikesir.gov.tr/tarim-ve-hayvancilik). balikesir.gov.tr.
11. "Balıkesirspor Football Club" (http://www.balikesirspor.com.tr/).
12. "Salih Tozan Culture and Art Center" (https://www.balikesir.bel.tr/bilgi-hizmetleri/kulturel-mekanlar/sal
ih-tozan-kultur-ve-sanat-merkezi). balikesir.bel.tr.
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13. "Cuisine of Balıkesir" (http://www.balikesir.gov.tr/sofradaki-balikesir). Balıkesir Governorship.

External links
(in Turkish) Balıkesir Governorship website (http://www.balikesir.gov.tr/)
(in Turkish) Balıkesir Metropolitan Municipality website (http://www.balikesir.bel.tr/)

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