Sapanca
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SAKARYA
East of lzmit, Sakarya (Adapazari) is
the provincial capital of 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 Atatürk and Ethnography Museum
displays personal effects of the founder of the
Turkish Republic is well as regional artifacts. The
Beskopru Bridge, built by the Byzantine emperor
Justinian III 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.
Istanbulites escape to this retreat in the Saman
Mountain basin throughout the year. The Arifiye Forest
on the highlands of Lake Sapanca has nice camping and
picnic areas and an excellent panoramic view of the
lake below. The Akgöl 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
Edebi, 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 its
name, a detour to this town is well worth the effort.
The migrating Kayi Turks first settled here, and the
tomb of then 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 Helenapolis was the ancient name
of Yalova which honored the memory of Emperor
Constantine's mother Helena who designed the entire
city of Yalova.
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