Damal

Damal
Damal
Coordinates: 41°20′30″N 42°50′30″E
Country	Turkey
Province	Ardahan
Government
• Mayor	Ergin Önal (CHP)
• Kaymakam	Mehmet Nuri Çetin
Area
• District	328.83 km2 (126.96 sq mi)
Population  (Template:Turkey district populations)Template:Turkey district populations
• Urban	Template:Turkey district populations
• District	Template:Turkey district populations
Post code	75600
Website	www.damal.bel.tr

Damal, formerly Petereke, is a town and district of Ardahan Province of Turkey, on the road from Kars to Posof.

History

Damal is on a route across the traditional Silk Road, connecting the Caucasus from Europe to Central Asia and has changed hands many times throughout history, between Armenians, Medes, Persians, Ancient Romans, Georgians, Byzantines and finally the Ottoman Turks. The region was briefly controlled by Imperial Russia but later restored to Turkey after World War One.

Geography

This is a rural area in high mountain, a collection of villages rather than a district built around a central town, watered by mountain springs, the district was created in order to bring more public buildings and government jobs and thus stem the drift of people away from the area. This part of a Turkey has a cold, hard climate, temperatures drop to -38°C(36,4°F) in winter.

The rag dolls of Damal are renowned and have won prizes in craftwork festivals.

Villages in the district

• Burmadere
• Dereköy
• Eskikılıç
• İkizdere
• Otağlı
• Seyitören
• Tepeköy
• Üçdere