İkizdere

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 = İkizdere

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image_caption = Lilium ponticum in habitat near Ikizdere
image_blank_emblem =
blank_emblem_type =

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subdivision_type1=Region
subdivision_name1 = Black Sea
subdivision_type2=Province
subdivision_name2 = Rize| population_total = 8400|population_footnotes=
population_as_of =| 2000
population_density_km2 = 9354|area_total_km2 = 898|elevation_m = 31|latd = 40
latm = 78
latNS = N
longd = 40
longm = 55
longEW = E
postal_code_type=Postal code
postal_code = 53
area_code = (0090)+ 464
leader_title=Mayor
leader_name = Hasan Kösoğlu
blank_info = 53|blank_name=Licence plate
website =

İkizdere is a town and district of Rize Province in the Black Sea region of Turkey.

Etymology

Formerly known as "Kuray-ı Sab", İkizdere means "two streams" and indeed the "Çamlık" and "Cimil" Rivers meet here to form the "İkizdere".

Geography

This is hilly countryside inland from the Black Sea, forest-covered steep mountainside separated by narrow valleys, with areas of high pasture. The İkizdere is formed from streams running out of the Rize Mountains and continues down to the Black Sea, it is dammed for hydro-electric power and for irrigation. There is snow on the high peaks and lots of glacial formation. The climate is typical of the Black Sea region i.e. it rains all the time. There is broad-leaf forest at lower elevations and pine higher up.

İkizdere is an agricultural district, growing tea on the hillsides and potatoes in the valley, and now some kiwi fruit are being planted also. Cattle and sheep are grazed on the hillsides, going up to the high pastures ("yayla") in summer. Beekeeping is another important source of income, particularly in the village of "Anzer". And this very attractive countryside is now attracting tourists, on trekking holidays. However on the whole İkizdere is not a wealthy region and the younger generations migrate to Turkey's larger cities in search of jobs.

The town of İkizdere is on the river bank, convert|56|km|mi|0|abbr=on from the city of Rize on the road to Erzurum.

History

See Rize Province for a history of this area, once part of the Byzantine Empire and later the Empire of Trebizond, during which periods there was a monastery here in İkizdere. The area was absorbed into the Ottoman Empire by Mehmet II in 1461.

İkizdere was occupied by Russia for two years during the First World War.

Places of interest

* Merkez Camisi - The central mosque
* The mosque in the village of "Şimşirli"
* The mosque of Hacı Şeyh in the town of "Güneyce"
* Güneyce bridge
* The mineral water springs of "Şimşirli" and "Ilıcaköy"

There are also a number of interesting wooden houses from the Ottoman period, and many areas of high meadow for walking and trekking, including:
* the honey-producing "Anzer Yaylası"
* the forest area of "Çamlık"
* "Çağrankaya" and "Ovit" - other areas of high pasture

External links

* [http://www.ikizdere.gov.tr/ District governor's official website]
* [http://www.ikizdere.net ikizdere.net]
* [http://www.ikizdere.org Yeşil ikizdere ve internet radyosu ikizdereFM]
* [http://www.ikizdere.net/modules.php?name=coppermine photos of Ikizdere]
* [http://www.ikizderemiz.com/anasayfa.asp local info - follow "resimler" for photos
* [http://www.guneyce.com/ local info website ("resimler" section contains photos)
* [http://www.guneycecay.com.tr/ local tea growers]
* [http://picasaweb.google.com/ikizdere.net/ picasa photos of Ikizdere]