Kemaliye

Infobox Settlement

settlement_type = Town
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = TUR
timezone=EET
utc_offset=+2
map_caption =Location of PAGENAME within Turkey.
timezone_DST=EEST
utc_offset_DST=+3

official_name = Kemaliye


image_caption = A former Armenian church in Kemaliye, now used as a museum.
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subdivision_type1=Region
subdivision_name1 = Eastern Anatolia
subdivision_type2=Province
subdivision_name2 = Erzincan| population_total =
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leader_name =
website = [http://www.kemaliye.bel.tr www.kemaliye.bel.tr]
leader_name1 =
gwebsite = [http://www.kemaliye.gov.tr www.kemaliye.gov.tr]

Kemaliye (formerly Eğin) ( _hy. Ակն, Latinized Armenian Ağn) is a town and one of the 9 districts of Erzincan Province in the Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey. The town was re-named Kemaliye after the foundation of the Republic of Turkey, in honor of Mustafa Kemal Pasha, although former name of Eğin is still known and used locally and sometimes even beyond. It has a population of a little less than 10,000 people. She was part of Elazığ Province until 1926 and Malatya Province between 1926-1938.

Kemaliye is famous for its historical houses which have a unique architecture. The town also has one of the best views commanding the river Euphrates along its route, the river crossing right through the urban zone. Kemaliye is one of the most suitable and favored rafting routes on the river. Its honey is also famous.

Situated in a region defined by steep lines along the gorges of Euphrates, the industrial development in Kemaliye is rather modest and the agricultural land scarce. Exports of forestry products partially compensate for these, as well as the rising resources of recent years provided by tourism. Many of the old houses in Kemaliye have been restored along original features, and the town starts to attract an increasing number of visitors, either through the land route or through the river whose section around Kemaliye is popular among rafting fans. Hand-made production of a number of crafts products, made especially in iron, also remains vivacious. Kemaliye has traditionally been a cradle of outside immigration, especially to İstanbul, creating organic ties to Turkey's former capital where certain crafts and trades, such as the meat industry, were reserved, sometimes by means of imperial decrees, for natives of Erzincan Province since centuries. The trend continues today, although thanks to improving general awareness of the town's natural and architectural attractions, assisted by the presence of sizable and active communities of natives abroad, there is an increasing movement of visitors towards Kemaliye as well.

The city of Eğin was founded by Armenians who had migrated there from Iran. In 1896, the city was evenly divided between Armenians and Muslims (Turks and Kurds). The city was recognized for its wealth.

Notable people from Eğin

*Arpiar Arpiarian - Armenian writer, pioneer of Armenian realism and political acitivist.
*Papken Siuni - leader of the Ottoman Bank takeover.
*Siamanto - Armenian writer, poet and national figure killed during the Armenian Massacre.
*Misak Medzarents - Armenian poet
*Nikol Galanderian - Armenian composer
*Duzian Family - overseers of the treasury of the Ottoman Empire, this Armenian family originated in Egin

References

External links

* [http://kemaliye.blogspot.com Kemaliye Photos Blog] [http://www.sonbaski.com/kemaliyem.htm Kemaliye Photos]