KONYA
Konya is one of the
most important cities in central
Turkey
. It
is a world-renowned city of history and culture and a famous
international tourist city. Becoming Capital of Seljuk
Emperorship and being the prominent city of the Silk Road made
Konya
wold-wide
famous. It lived long time as an important cultural and economic
center in the past. Today it gained to be a gravitation center
of industry and business additionally culture and history.
Geography - Climate - Population
Historically Iconium city, in central
Turkey
.
The city lies at an elevation of about
3,370 feet
(
1,027 m
) on
the southwest edge of the central Anatolian Plateau and is
surrounded by a narrow, fertile plain. It is backed by
Bozkır
Mountain
on
the west and enclosed by the interior edges of the central
Taurus ranges further south. The southwestern part of the city
has been redesigned, and a wide avenue leads through the western
suburbs to the railway station, but the old city still survives
at the east of the acropolis.
Konya
is located in the Middle Anatolian
Region between the north parallels of 36.5-39.5 and in east
meridians of 31.5-34.5. In its east is Niğde, in the north
Ankara
and
Eskişehir
, in
the west Afyon and Isparta and in the south is
Antalya
.
Konya
is
the biggest city in
Turkey
according
to its area which is 40.
249 km
squares.
The city is linked by air to
Istanbul
and
by road to the principal urban centres of
Turkey
."Iconium"
of the Roman times is
263 kilometers
from
Ankara
The population of
Konya
is
1.973.757 (according to 1997 census). Population estimates for
year 2001 are about 2.100.000 persons. Livingperson number in
the centre of the city is 611.293 persons. Other 1.141.435
persons live in the country.
Climate in the city is terrestrial.
Summer is hot and dry; winter is cold and snowy. The hottest
heat is
40.0 C
° ;
the coldest is
-28.2 C
average
humidity is % 60; average fall is
325.9 mm
;
average snowy or rainy day number is 81.5 days.
History
Konya
is one of the oldest urban centres in
the world; excavations in Alâeddin Hill in the middle of the
city indicate settlement dating from at least the 3rd millennium
BC. According to a Phrygian legend of the great flood,
Konya
was
the first city to rise after the deluge that destroyed humanity.
Still another legend ascribes its ancient name to the eikon
(image), or the gorgon's head, with which Perseus vanquished the
native population before founding the Greek city.
After the collapse of the Hittite
empire, the Phrygians established a large settlement there. It
was Hellenized gradually from the 3rd century BC and became a
self-governing city, largely Greek in language, education and
culture. Some of the citizens, however, retained their Phrygian
culture, and it was probably among them that the Jewish
community stirred up opposition to the Apostle Paul on his first
visit in AD 47 or 48; he returned in 50 and 53. Iconium,
included in the Roman
province
of
Galatia
by
25 BC, was raised to the status of a colony by the emperor
Hadrian in AD 130 and became the capital of the
province
of
Lycaonia
about
372. Located near the frontier, Iconium was subject to Arab
incursions from the 7 th to the 9 th centuries. It was taken
from the
Byzantine Empire
by
the emerging Seljuq Turks in 1072 or 1081 and soon became the
capital of the Seljuq sultanate of Rum. Renamed as
Konya
, it
reached its greatest prosperity under their rule and was
accounted one of the most brilliant cities of the world. Its
enlightened rulers were great builders and patrons of art who
endowed the city with many buildings, including some of the
finest existing examples of Seljuq art. Now used as museums,
these include the İnce Minare (built 1258), a former theological
college housing the Seljuq Museum ; the richly decorated Karatay
Medrese (1251), a former theological school that now houses a
ceramics museum; and the Sirçali Medrese (1242), which now
contains a museum of Seljuq and Ottoman antiquities. The palace
of the sultans stands on the acropolis mound. Nearby are the
mosque and tomb of Sultan ' Al a ' ad-D i n Kay-Qub a d I, at
whose invitation the Muslim Su f i (mystic) Jalal ad-Din ar-Rumi
settled in Konya and later founded the Mawlawiyah (Mevleviye)
order of mystics, known in the West as the “Whirling Dervishes.”
The tekke (“monastery”) of R u m i , comprising a number of
buildings and his mausoleum, lies south of the city centre;
since 1917 it has been used as an İslamic museum. After the
decline of the Seljuqs,
Konya
was
ruled by the Il-Khanid Mongols and later by the Turkmen
principality of Karaman until it was finally annexed to the
Ottoman Empire
about
1467. The city was in decline during the Ottoman period but
revived after 1896, largely through the building of the
Istanbul-Baghdad railway, which passes through
Konya
Economy
INVEST IN KONYA
http://www.investinkonya.org.tr
Located on the main routes of trade including
the famous Silk Road since the early periods of history, Konya
has been known basically an agricultural province as well as a
rich center of archeology. However, recent developments show
that the image of Konya is now changing from an agriculture
based region to being an industrialized region. Industrial
investments became important factor for regional development in
Konya besides the impetus coming from agricultural background.
At the early days of the young republic Konya
had a closed economy limited to the confines of the city. Only
a handful artisans and small businesses were operating at those
years.
With the impetus coming from public
investments made in Konya, it began to prosper rapidly. The
early sign of industrialization in Konya was the agricultural
machinery production. Produced mostly in small workshops and
factories, the products were sold not only in Konya, but also
in other agricultural regions of the country.
During the 1970s Konya experienced a
development campaign in every field of business. Following
the early investments in food related industries such as flour,
macaroni, candies, feed, etc.., other factories have followed
suit. Today, there are medium to large size factories producing
vegetable oil, rubber, plastics, shoe manufacturing, and other
sectors. In food sector, 64 mills produces 5 thousand tons of
flour Also, there are 34 feed factories which have 464 tons per
hour capacity. In the city there were nearly 400 thousand
calves and more than 2 million livestock in 1997.
Now becoming almost self-sufficient to ensure
an integrated industrial base, the industries in Konya utilizes
up-to-date technology and machinery. As an example, paper
packaging and printing factories in Konya produce variety of
products in the European standards. Considerable development
have been achieved in the iron and other metals casting,
machine production, agricultural machinery production and in
the automotive sectors.
Aluminum plants are the pride of Konya. The
establishment of basic production plant in Seydişehir helped the
development of aluminum processing industries around the main
manufacturing. A number of private rolling mills are produced
for national and international customers.
In Konya every conceivable machinery can be
manufactured by experienced designers and producers. Among the
hot selling machinery in the province are, complete flour
processing mills, hydraulic and mechanical presses for metal
processing industries, engine repair and renovation mills and
giant hydraulic presses.
All machinery produced in Konya has reached
the quality level of their European competitors. Machines
produced in Konya are sold successfully in Middle East, African
and European countries.
The production of agricultural machinery has
a long history in Konya. The producers of agricultural
machinery in Konya are proud to be the first exporters of these
kinds of products. They are successfully selling their quality
products in foreign markets. %45 of Turkey’s agricultural
machinery and equipment exports belongs to the Konyan producers.
Automotive parts production occupies a
special position in Konya. Three out of four factories in the
country that produce engine valves are in Konya. Out of four
piston producers in Turkey 2 factories are in Konya. The highest
quality engine barrels are produced in Konya. Valve, piston
and barrels are 3 important elements of engine production. In
each of these three basic inputs, Konya has an annual production
capacity of over 2 million pieces.
Thousands of other parts for automotive
industries are produced in Konya. Gears and gear boxes are
produced on the most modern CNC mills and medium sized skillful
workshops and factories. Today’s industrialists in Konya, by
keeping themselves close to the development in technological
field, are able to be active in world markets as well as in
domestic markets. The internationalization of their operation
has considerable effect on the country's economic development.
Being the fifth largest city of Turkey with its population of
2.5 million, KONYA is the biggest city of the country in terms
of its area, of 40,249 km squares. KONYA is the wheat-warehouse
of Turkey. Its economic structure is based on agriculture to a
great extent. Its industrial development is also dependent on
the agriculture. However, there have been a diverse range of
investments in various sectors of industry recently. With the
completion of KOP, Konya Irrigation Project, the irrigated land
area will reach 2 million hectares from its present level of 370
thousand hectares, thus it will become the largest crop
producer not only in Turkey but also in neighboring countries.
According to 1996 data, of the total area of our city, 2,659,980
Hectares are allocated for agricultural activities. The city's
agricultural produce (including the production of sugar beet)
accounts for 20 % of the country's total. After the realization
of KOP (Konya Irrigation Project), 40 % of the country's total
agricultural production would be undertaken by Konya farmers.
Entrepreneurs in Konya are the pioneers of
industrial development in the city. Having completed its first
and second industrial zones, the third one should also be
initiated. By doing so, the share of pioneering industrial
complexes should be increased. At present, 118 factories in
the first Organized Industrial Zone and 224 factories in the
second OIZ produce for Turkey and world markets. The third Zone
will be the largest with 320 prospective factories.
Additionally Busan private OIZ includes 184 factories in
different manufacturing sectors. 60 Small Industrial Sites
scattered in the towns in the province are another pillar for
industrialization and urbanization in Konya. In 7,813
businesses around 33 thousand workers are employed. Experiencing
a rapidly developing industrialization process, Turkey has also
been striving for foreign markets. As for Konya, it also plays
its part to make its influence felt in these markets. 64% of the
enterprises in Konya export their products. This number includes
firms that manufacture for the exporter firms. By the year 2003
export of our city is 700 million USD; it is expected to reach 1
milliard USD. 60% of export is to European countries and then to
North Africa, Middle East, Far East and Latin America.
Agricultural machinery, automotive supply industry products,
machine tools, food and footwear are among the leading exports
articles. The people of Konya are entrepreneurs. They are
dynamic and outward-oriented. If they are motivated and directed
properly, they would be able to show their competence. With
their unique alliance model which can be summarized with the
motto "united we stand", industrialists and tradesmen in Konya
managed to become a worldwide industrial power. The
industrialists of Konya have always been eager to embark on
giant industrial investments if they are supported in an
efficient manner.
Other Economic and Social Indicators
The total electric consumption is
1.480.114.867 Kwh. Energy usage rate are % 31 homes, % 9
businesses, % 29 Industry. The consumption for per person is 739
Kwh.
In Konya there are 156 bank branches (in
2000).
The Seljuk University is the only University
in Konya. The University has 16 faculties, 26 professional
schools and 1 conservatory. The population of Seljuk University
is reaching 80.000 people.
For further information, please visit :
http://www.investinkonya.org.tr
Relics - Places of interest
Konya , one of
Turkey
's
oldest continuously inhabited cities was known as Iconium in
Roman times. The capital of the Seljuk Turks from the 12th to
the 13th centuries, it ranks as one of the great cultural
centers of
Turkey
.
During that period of cultural, political and religious growth,
the mystic Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi founded a Sufi Order known in
the West as the Whirling Dervishes. The striking green-tiled
mausoleum of Mevlana is
Konya
's
most famous building. Attached to the mausoleum, the former
dervish seminary serves now as a museum housing manuscripts of
Mevlana's works and various artifacts related to the mysticism
of the sect. Every year, in the first half of December, this
still-active religious order holds a ceremony commemorating the
Whirling Dervishes.The controlled, almost trance-like turning or
sema of the white-robed men creates a mystical experience for
the viewer. Alaeddin Mosque, built on the site of the ancient
Konya
citadel
in 1220, during the reign of the great Seijuk sultan Alaeddin
Keykubat, commands
Konya
's
skyline. To one side of the mosque are the remains of the Seljuk
Imperial . The Karatay Medrese, now a museum, displays bold and
striking Seljuk ceramics. On the other side of the mosque, the
Ince Minareli Medrese of 1258 is remarkable for its marvelous
baroque Seljuk portal. Other Seljuk works include the Sircali
Medrese and the Sahip Ata Complex.The collection of the
Koyunoglu
Museum
is a
varied one; among its displays one is devoted to natural history
and another to old kilims. Within the museum complex,the
restored Izzettin Koyunoglu house illustrates the way of life of
a prosperous
Konya
family.
10 km
north
of
Konya
,
has the Byzantine Aya Eleni church and several rock chapels with
frescoes. Aksehir, to the northwest, is known throughout
Turkey
as
the birtplace of the 13th century humorist Nasrettin Hoca, whose
mausoleum stands in the town. The 13th century Ulu Mosque and
the Altinkale Mescidi are other monuments worth seeing; the
Sahip Ata Mausoleum has been converted into the town's museum.
94 kms west of
Konya
was
founded on the shores of
Lake
Beysehir
the
third largest lake in the country. There are the attractive
Seljuk monuments of Esrefoglu Mosque and its medresse and the
Kubad-Abad
Summer
Palace
.