Şereflikoçhisar

Infobox Settlement
settlement_type = District
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 = Şereflikoçhisar


image_caption = Castle of Şereflikoçhisar
image_blank_emblem =
blank_emblem_type =
map c
Turkey
subdivision_type2=Province
subdivision_name2 = Ankara
population_total = 59128
population_urban = 42083
population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_density_km2 = 29.07
area_total_km2 = 2034
latd = 38
latm = 57
latNS = N
longd = 33
longm = 33
longEW = E
elevation_m = 900-1200
elevation_ft = 2950-3940
postal_code_type=Postal code
postal_code = 06xxx
area_code = 0312
blank_info = 06
blank_name=Licence plate
leader_title = Governor
leader_name = Etem Rumi Yıldız
website = [http://www.sereflikochisar.gov.tr/ www.sereflikochisar.gov.tr]

Şereflikoçhisar is a town and district of Ankara Province in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey, 148 km south of the city of Ankara. According to 2000 census, population of the district is 59,128 of which 42,083 live in the town of Şereflikoçhisar and the remainder in surrounding villages.cite web|url=http://www.die.gov.tr/nufus_sayimi/2000tablo5.xls|title=Census 2000, Key statistics for urban areas of Turkey|accessdate=2008-03-26|author=Turkish Statistical Institute|format=XLS|language=Turkish] [cite web|url=http://www.xist.org/cntry/turkey.aspx?levels=Ic%20Anadolu|title=Statistical information on Turkey's administrative units|accessdate=2008-03-26|author=GeoHive|language=English] The district covers an area of 2,034 km², and the average elevation varies between 900 and 1,200 m, with the highest point being Mt. Karasenir at 1,650 m.

The area is a flat dry plain, the only water being Hirfanlı reservoir and the salt lake Lake Tuz. The countryside is inhospitable, with minerals extracted from the salt lake being a major source of income. Therefore the rural population is migrating to nearby towns or abroad. There is a substantial Kurdish population and indeed Murat Bozlak, a former leader of the leftist party DEHAP is from Şereflikoçhisar.

Name

The name comes from the Seljuk Turkish castle of "Koçhisar" and the prefix "Şerefli" meaning honourable was added by Atatürk in recognition of the many men of the town lost at the battle of Gallipoli.

History

Şereflikoçhisar is believed to have been inhabited since the time of the Hittites and was a thriving town in the Seljuk and Ottoman Empire periods.

Notes

References

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External links

* [http://www.sereflikochisar.gov.tr/ District governor's official website] tr icon
* [http://www.sereflikochisar-bld.gov.tr/ District municipality's official website] tr icon