Iğdır

Infobox Settlement
settlement_type =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = TUR
timezone=EET
utc_offset=+2
map_caption =Location of Iğdır within Turkey.
timezone_DST=EEST
utc_offset_DST=+3
official_name = Iğdır

---

image_caption = Location of Iğdır
image_blank_emblem =
blank_emblem_type =
subdivision_type1=Region
subdivision_name1 = Eastern Anatolia Region
subdivision_type2=Province
subdivision_name2 = Iğdır| population_total = 119432|population_footnotes=
population_urban = 75927|population_footnotes=
population_as_of = 2007
population_footnotes = [http://report.tuik.gov.tr/reports/rwservlet?adnks=&report=turkiye_ilce_koy_sehir.RDF&p_il1=76&p_kod=1&desformat=html&ENVID=adnksEnv TÜİK]
population_density_km2 =
area_total_km2 = 1479
elevation_m = 850
pushpin_

pushpin_label_position =
pushpin_map_caption =Location of Karakoyunlu
pushpin_mapsize =
latd = 39
latm = 55
latNS = N
longd = 44
longm = 02
longEW = E
postal_code_type=Postal code
postal_code = 76000
blank_info = 76 XX XXX |blank_name=Licence plate
area_code = 0476
leader_name = Nurettin Aras
website = [http://www.igdir.bel.tr Iğdır Municipality]
leader_name1 =
gwebsite =

Iğdır (Lang-tr|Iğdır, Lang-hy|Իգդիր, Lang-az|İğdır) is the capital city of Iğdır Province in Eastern Anatolia Region, Turkey, close to the border with Armenia, Azerbaijan and Iran. Turkey's highest mountain, the Biblical Mount Ararat (Ağrı Dağı) is in Iğdır, but much of the land is a wide plain far below the mountain. Iğdır is where Noah is said to have thrived following the flood. The Armenian border is marked by the Aras River.

Etymology

The area is came from "Iğdır Bey" being oldest son of "Cengiz Alp" who was one of six sons of Oghuz Han belonging to internal Oghuz three arrows branch considered to be the 21st of the 24 Oghuz branches. [ [http://www.igdir.bel.tr/igdir_hakkinda.asp :: Iğdır Belediyesi :: ] ] They spread throughout Anatolia and there are towns and villages named Iğdır in Malatya and other parts of Turkey today. [ [http://www.igdirkoyu.com/tarih.htm igdir köyü ] ]

Geography

The city of Iğdır sits on a plain at a lower altitude than most of Turkey's eastern provinces. This allows agricultural production including apples, tomatoes, cucumbers, peaches, pears, sugar beet, watermelons and melons. However, the most famous produces of Iğdır are cotton and apricots.

Climate

Iğdır has a relatively moderate Continental climate. The climate is the warmest in this part of Turkey.

Architecture

On the peninsula stands the Sürmeli castle, a Seljuk era citadel dating from 1224. Most major landmarks in the city are found inside and around the castle. The current castle was built over existing fortifications and served the double purpose of a palace for local government and as a defensive structure in case of attack. The Seljuk Caravanserai is another historical structure in Iğdır.

Genocide Monument and Museum

The Genocide Monument has been started for construction on 1 August 1997 and its inauguration has been conducted on 5 October 1999. It has been founded on a 1,3 hectar area. Its height from ground is 43,5 meters. At present time, it is highest Monument of Turkey. Its bottom part is museum with 350 square meters area ad its upper part is monument consisting of 5 swords. Granite of Monument's swords has been brought from China and other materials such as marble, granite, stone ceramics have been brought from other regions of Turkey. It forms a picture with Mount Ararat in the background. In Museum, documents, caertificate, photographs and other materials remaining from Armenian terror who had lived in the Region between 1915-1918 years and taken out from collective, mass cementers, are being exhibited. ["Introduction of Iğdır", Iğdır Municipality Publishing, 2003]

Culture

Iğdır's culture is a subculture of the larger Culture of Turkey. The city's in the south of Caucasus position is central to many annual festivals. ["Introduction of Iğdır", Iğdır Municipality Publishing, 2003]

The agricultural production has caused the town to be livelier and wealthier than its neighbours in the generally impoverished eastern Turkey. There are many cafes and resaturants. The best-known dish is an oily meat stew called "bozbaş". ["Sürmeli Çukurda Iğdır", Ziya Zakir Acar, 2002]

Media

Iğdır has 18 local daily and weekly newspapers. [Her Yönüyle Iğdır", Ziya Zakir Acar, 2004] The most prominent of these is "Yeşil Iğdır" which is published since 1 September 1955.

Economy

The city of Iğdır is located between Kars and Ağrı, and also neighbours with three countries; Armenia, Azerbaijan and Iran. Despite the fact that it has three strategically important neighbours, the border gates are held close, therefore this situation diminishes economic possibilities.

Almost seventy-four percent of Mount Ararat's area, the highest mountain of Turkey, stands in Iğdır's borders. But the investments for developing tourism in Mt. Ararat is paid to the Ağrı Municipality.

Demographics

Today, Iğdır has a mixed population of Kurds (who form the majority [ [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/images/dist-kurdish.gifDistribution of Kurdish People] — GlobalSecurity.org] ), Turks, and Azerbaijanis. [tr icon [http://webarsiv.hurriyet.com.tr/2002/08/05/162199.asp Hürriyet ] ] The spring festival nevruz which is native to Iran is widely celebrated in Iğdır.

Famous people

*Avetis Aharonyan, chairman of the Democratic Republic of Armenia
*Drastamat Kanayan, an Armenian politician and general
*Servet Çetin, a Turkish-Azeri soccer player
*Şahin Yakut, a Turkish kickboxer and MMA Fighter

ister cities

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References

External links

* [http://www.igdir.bel.tr/eng_index.asp Official website of the Iğdır Municipality]
* [http://www.igdir.gov.tr Official website of the Iğdır Province]
* [http://www.igdirhaber.net/ Iğdır's News website]