Yalova
Yalova is a city located in northwestern Turkey, on the eastern coast of the Sea of Marmara, and is the capital of the Yalova Province. Yalova has a city population of 92,166, while the population of the Yalova Province is 202,531.[1] as of 2009. The mayor is Yakup Koçal (DP).
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[edit] Etymology
In general, it is assumed that the name "Yalova" comes from "Yalıova", which means "plain at the coast." The word "yalı" originates from the Greek yiáli γιαλή (mod. γιαλός), which literally means seashore or beach;[2] while "ova" means plain in Turkish.
[edit] History
The first settlement in the region dates back to the Prehistoric Period, in around 3000 BC. The Hittites ruled the region in the 21st century BC, followed by the Phrygians in the 13th century BC. The region was conquered by the Romans in 74 BC. Following the division of the Roman Empire in 395, the region of Yalova remained under the sovereignty of the Byzantine Empire. In 1302, Yalova was incorporated into the territory of the Ottoman Empire.
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk occasionally lived in Yalova in his final years. In one of his speeches he famously said: "Yalova is my city."[citation needed]
[edit] Tourist attractions
Yalova has a number of tourist attractions, such as the "Yalova Atatürk Mansion" used by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the modern Turkey, during his visits to the city.
The city is famous for its hot springs in Termal district, which gets its name from the Latin word thermae.
Another attraction is the Karaca Arboretum on the way to Termal.
[edit] Climate
Yalova has a borderline mediterranean/humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification: Csa/Cfa), with cold winters and hot, humid summers.
| Climate data for Yalova | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 25.1 (77.2) |
27.2 (81.0) |
31.4 (88.5) |
36.5 (97.7) |
34.2 (93.6) |
42.1 (107.8) |
45.4 (113.7) |
40.0 (104.0) |
37.5 (99.5) |
36.6 (97.9) |
29.0 (84.2) |
27.4 (81.3) |
45.4 (113.7) |
| Average high °C (°F) | 10.3 (50.5) |
10.5 (50.9) |
12.7 (54.9) |
17.2 (63.0) |
21.7 (71.1) |
26.4 (79.5) |
28.8 (83.8) |
28.9 (84.0) |
25.4 (77.7) |
20.7 (69.3) |
15.8 (60.4) |
12.0 (53.6) |
19.20 (66.56) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 3.3 (37.9) |
3.1 (37.6) |
4.5 (40.1) |
8.0 (46.4) |
11.9 (53.4) |
15.9 (60.6) |
18.0 (64.4) |
18.3 (64.9) |
15.0 (59.0) |
11.8 (53.2) |
7.7 (45.9) |
5.2 (41.4) |
10.23 (50.41) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −5.9 (21.4) |
−11 (12.2) |
−7.4 (18.7) |
−1.6 (29.1) |
1.2 (34.2) |
8.0 (46.4) |
10.8 (51.4) |
10.6 (51.1) |
6.2 (43.2) |
1.3 (34.3) |
−3.2 (26.2) |
−5.6 (21.9) |
−11 (12.2) |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 86.9 (3.421) |
69.8 (2.748) |
69.5 (2.736) |
53.0 (2.087) |
33.8 (1.331) |
41.7 (1.642) |
22.4 (0.882) |
36.9 (1.453) |
52.9 (2.083) |
89.0 (3.504) |
89.2 (3.512) |
107.2 (4.22) |
752.3 (29.618) |
| Avg. rainy days | 15.6 | 13.3 | 12.3 | 11.1 | 7.6 | 6.0 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 6.3 | 10.8 | 12.6 | 14.5 | 118.6 |
| Sunshine hours | 58.9 | 86.8 | 133.3 | 171 | 235.6 | 273 | 294.5 | 279 | 222 | 155 | 78 | 46.5 | 2,033.6 |
| Source: Devlet Meteoroloji İşleri Genel Müdürlüğü [3] | |||||||||||||
[edit] Twin cities
Yalova is twinned with:[4]
[edit] Notable natives
- Muharrem Ince - Politician
- İzel (İzel Çeliköz) - Singer
- Mehmet Okur - NBA basketball player
- Şebnem Ferah - Singer
[edit] References and notes
[edit] External links
Media related to Yalova at Wikimedia Commons
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Coordinates: 40°39′N 29°16′E / 40.65°N 29.267°E
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