Samandağ

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Samandağ
Toun
Location o Samandağ athin Turkey.
Location o Samandağ athin Turkey.
Kintra Turkey
RegionMediterranean Region
ProvinceHatay
Elevation
72 m (236 ft)
Population
 • Urban
44,918
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code
31
Area code(s)(0)326
Licence plate31

Samandağ, is a toun an destrict in Hatay Province o soothren Turkey, at the mooth o the Orontes River on the Mediterranean coast, near Turkey's border wi Sirie, 25 km (16 mi) frae the ceety o Antakya. The mayor is Mithat Nehir (ÖDP).

Etymology[eedit | eedit soorce]

Samandağ wis umwhile kent as Samanda, Yukarı Alevışık, Levşiye an Süveydiye an wis offeecially namit Samandağ in 1948.

History[eedit | eedit soorce]

Samandağ lies near the site of the ancient Seleucia Pieria, founded in 300 BC by Seleucus Nicator a general of Alexander the Great, in the Seleucid era that followed Alexander's demise. Seleucia Pieria quickly became a major Mediterranean port o the Hellenistic an Roman eras, the port o Antioch. But it wis subject tae siltin an an earthquake in 526 feenally completit its demise as a port. Samandağ, then cried St Symeon,[1] became the port o Antioch, an played an important role in the captur o the ceety bi the Crusaders in 1098.

Geography[eedit | eedit soorce]

Samandağ itself is a sma toun o 35,000 fowk, close tae the ceety o Antakya. The local economy depends on fishin an agricultur, especially citrus fruits, an Samandağ haes the air o a kintra mercat toun, wi young men buzzin through the streets on mopeds. Aroond the veelage o Çevlik (derived frae Seleucia) there is a lang sandy coastline popular wi daytrippers frae Antakya, although the sea can be stormy. This is an important nestin aurie o the endangered sea turtles Caretta caretta.

Population[eedit | eedit soorce]

Besides Turks, Samandağ haes a sizable Arabic speakin population who adhere tae the Alawite sect o Shia Islam. There are an aw Arab-Aramaic Christian communities in the destrict an the veelage o Vakıflı is Turkey's last remainin rural Armenie community. Poleetically Samandağ is traditionally left-leanin. In the 2009 local elections, Freedom an Solidarity Pairty (ÖDP) candidate Mithat Nehir wis electit mayor o the ilçe (the sole victorious ÖDP candidate in the entire republic).[2]

Places o interest[eedit | eedit soorce]

  • The tunnel o Vespasian, in the veelage o Kapısuyu , built as a water channel in the 2nt century.
  • The tomb o the Muslim saunt Hızır.

References[eedit | eedit soorce]

Freemit airtins[eedit | eedit soorce]

Coordinates: 36°05′25″N 35°58′01″E / 36.0904°N 35.9669°E / 36.0904; 35.9669