# Ardahan Province

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Province in Turkey

Ardahan Province Ardahan ili Province Lake Çıldır Location of the province within Turkey Country Turkey Seat Ardahan Government • Governor Hayrettin Çiçek Area 4,934 km2 (1,905 sq mi) Population (2022)[1] 92,481 • Density 18.74/km2 (48.55/sq mi) Time zone UTC+3 (TRT) Area code 0478 Website www.ardahan.gov.tr

**Ardahan Province** ([Turkish](/source/Turkish_language): *Ardahan ili*; [Kurdish](/source/Kurdish_language): *Parêzgeha Erdêxanê*, [Georgian](/source/Georgian_language): არტაანის რეგიონი, [romanized](/source/Romanization_of_Georgian): art'aanis regioni) is a [province](/source/Provinces_of_Turkey) in the north-east of [Turkey](/source/Turkey), bordering [Georgia](/source/Georgia_(country)) and [Armenia](/source/Armenia). Its area is 4,934 km2,[2] and its population is 92,481 (2022).[1] The provincial capital is the city of [Ardahan](/source/Ardahan). Ardahan borders the Turkish provinces of [Erzurum](/source/Erzurum_Province), [Artvin](/source/Artvin_Province) and [Kars](/source/Kars_Province).

## Demographics

Ethnographic map of [Ardahan okrug](/source/Ardahan_okrug) in 1902

In 1886, 43,643 people lived in Ardahan Vilayet of which 46.6% was Turkish, 16% was Kurdish, 14.3% [Karapapakh](/source/Karapapakhs), 12.9% Greek, 7.2% Turkmen, 2.4% Russian and 0.6% Armenian. The town of [Ardahan](/source/Ardahan) had a population of 778 of which 51.8% was Turkish, 22.1% Russian, 18.1% Armenian and 6.2% Greek.[3]

In the 1897 [Russian Empire Census](/source/Russian_Empire_Census), [Ardahan okrug](/source/Kars_Oblast) had a population of 65,763 of which 42.6% was Turkish, 19.1% Kurdish, 12% Karapapakh, 11.9% Greek, 6.6% [Turkmen](/source/Turkmens) and 2.9% Armenian. Slavs constituted 3.9% of the population.[4] The town of Ardahan had a population of 4,142 of which 37.1% was Slavic, 31.7% Armenian, 18% Turkish and 2.6% Greek.[5]

In 1908, Ardahan sancak had a population of 71,469 of which 41.6% was Turkish, 18.1% was Kurdish, 15.4% Greek, 14.4% Karapapakh, 7.9% Turkmen, 2.2% Russian and 0.4% Armenian.[6]

In the first Turkish census taking place in 1927, Ardahan District had a population of 88,989 of which 85.8% spoke [Turkish](/source/Turkish_language) as [first language](/source/First_language), while 13.8% spoke [Kurdish](/source/Kurdish_languages). 98.8% of the Kurdish-speaking population lived in [Göle sub-district](/source/G%C3%B6le_District).[7] In the same census, almost 100% of the population was [Muslim](/source/Muslims). 14 Christians lived in the district.[8] The district had a population of 104,911 in 1935.[9]

## History

The first surviving record about this region is attributed to [Strabo](/source/Strabo), who calls it [Gogarene](/source/Gugars) ([Gugark](/source/Gugark)) and mentions that it was a part of the [Kingdom of Armenia](/source/Kingdom_of_Armenia_(antiquity)), taken away from the [Kingdom of Iberia](/source/Kingdom_of_Iberia_(antiquity)).[10][11] In the [Middle Ages](/source/Middle_Ages) Ardahan served as an important transit point for goods arriving from the [Abbasid Caliphate](/source/Abbasid_Caliphate) and departing to the regions around the [Black Sea](/source/Black_Sea). During the 8th to 10th centuries the region was in hands of the [Bagrationi](/source/Bagrationi_dynasty) princes of [Tao-Klarjeti](/source/Principality_of_Tao-Klarjeti), and later part of [Kingdom of Georgia](/source/Kingdom_of_Georgia) between 11th to 15th centuries. It was a theatre of war during the [Byzantine-Georgian wars](/source/Byzantine%E2%80%93Georgian_wars). According to the [Arab](/source/Arabs) historian [Yahya of Antioch](/source/Yahya_of_Antioch), the [Byzantines](/source/Byzantine_Empire) razed Ardahan and slaughtered its population in 1021.[11] The [Mongols](/source/Mongol_Empire) took hold of the region in the 1230s but the Georgian princes of [Samtskhe](/source/Samtskhe_atabegate) were able to recapture it in 1266. As a result of [Peace of Amasya](/source/Peace_of_Amasya), signed in 1555 with the [Safavid](/source/Safavid) [Persia](/source/Persia), Ardahan passed to [Ottoman](/source/Ottoman_Empire) hands and reorganized into the [Ardahan sanjak](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ardahan_Sanjak&action=edit&redlink=1) as part of [eyalet](/source/Eyalet) of [Childir](/source/Childir_Eyalet). In 1578 Ottomans appointed the former Georgian prince, [Manuchar](/source/Manuchar_II_Jaqeli) (who took the name of *Mustafa* after converting to [Islam](/source/Islam)) as the first governor.[12] From 1625 onwards the entire eyalet was a hereditary possession of the now-Muslim [atabegs](/source/Atabeg) of Samtskhe,[13] which administered it as hereditary governors, with some exceptions, until the mid-18th century.[12]

In 1878, after the [Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878)](/source/Russo-Turkish_War_(1877%E2%80%931878)), the region was incorporated into the [Russian Empire](/source/Russian_Empire), and until 1918 was known as [Kars Oblast](/source/Kars_Oblast). The northern part of the province was the [Democratic Republic of Georgia](/source/Democratic_Republic_of_Georgia) from 1919 to 1921 and the southern part of the province was the [Democratic Republic of Armenia](/source/Democratic_Republic_of_Armenia) from 1919 to 1920, Ardahan was reclaimed by Turkey under the [Treaty of Kars](/source/Treaty_of_Kars) in 1921. Ardahan Province was created in 1992 from the northern part of [Kars Province](/source/Kars_Province).[14][15]

The construction of the [Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline](/source/Baku%E2%80%93Tbilisi%E2%80%93Ceyhan_pipeline) gave the local economy a brief boost from 2000 onwards.

## Geography

Ardahan province is located in the far north east of Turkey, where the eastern extremity of the high plateau of [Eastern Anatolia](/source/Eastern_Anatolia) converges with the [Lesser Caucasus](/source/Lesser_Caucasus) mountain range. It is consequently an area of very high altitude and severe winters. This is attractive open countryside which however spends many months of the year under snow. At this altitude temperatures on average reach −20 °C (−4 °F) and can drop below freezing all year round, including summer months.

The local economy depends on farming and raising livestock. Until 1993 Ardahan was a district of the province of [Kars](/source/Kars_Province), becoming a province in its own right has meant more investment in infrastructure

There are two crossing points into the [Samtskhe–Javakheti](/source/Samtskhe%E2%80%93Javakheti) district of Georgia, one at [Posof](/source/Posof) and the other at [Çıldır](/source/%C3%87%C4%B1ld%C4%B1r). The Turkish military have a strong presence in this border district, another boost to the local economy.

### Climate

The predominant climate in the Ardahan province is [humid continental climate](/source/Humid_continental_climate) ([Köppen climate classification](/source/K%C3%B6ppen_climate_classification) *Dfb*) bordering on a [subarctic climate](/source/Subarctic_climate) (Dfc), with most large settlements in the province being located in lowest possible elevation areas, in attempt to avoid the year-round cold temperatures, thus staying just below the subarctic limit. Smaller locales, districts, villages and a significant portion of the landscape, exhibits a true [subarctic climate](/source/Subarctic_climate) (Dfc), being the second most widespread [climate](/source/Climate) in the region.[16]

## Districts

Ardahan province is divided into 6 [districts](/source/List_of_districts_in_Turkey) (capital district in **bold**):

- **[Ardahan](/source/Ardahan_District)**

- [Çıldır](/source/%C3%87%C4%B1ld%C4%B1r_District)

- [Damal](/source/Damal_District)

- [Göle](/source/G%C3%B6le_District)

- [Hanak](/source/Hanak_District)

- [Posof](/source/Posof_District)

## Cities and towns

- [Ardahan](/source/Ardahan) City 17,171 inh.

- [Göle](/source/G%C3%B6le) City 6,231 inh.

- [Hanak](/source/Hanak) City 4,030 inh.

- [Damal](/source/Damal) City 3,804 inh.

- [Köprülü](/source/K%C3%B6pr%C3%BCl%C3%BC%2C_G%C3%B6le) Town 2,126 inh.

- [Posof](/source/Posof) City 1,810 inh.

- [Çıldır](/source/%C3%87%C4%B1ld%C4%B1r) City 1,502 inh.

## Places of interest

- There are a number of medieval castles in the district including [Şeytan Castle](/source/%C5%9Eeytan_Castle).

- [Lake Çıldır](/source/Lake_%C3%87%C4%B1ld%C4%B1r)

- Phantom of [Atatürk](/source/Mustafa_Kemal_Atat%C3%BCrk) in city of Damal

There is a unique natural incident, between mid June and mid July at sunset, depending on angles of the sunrays. An image resembling the silhouette of [Atatürk](/source/Atat%C3%BCrk)'s face can be seen as a shadow on the hillside. It was first seen by a shepherd who was with his herd over the hill.[17]

## See also

- [List of populated places in Ardahan Province](/source/List_of_populated_places_in_Ardahan_Province)

[41°06′47″N 42°49′15″E / 41.11306°N 42.82083°E / 41.11306; 42.82083](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Ardahan_Province&params=41_06_47_N_42_49_15_E_region:TR-75_type:adm1st)

## Bibliography

- Şimşek, Oğuz. ["Türkiye Cumhuriyeti'nin İlk Genel Nüfus Sayımında Ardahan Vilâyeti'nin Nüfus Özellikleri"](https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/495347). *BELGÜ* (in Turkish): 209.

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-tuik_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-tuik_1-1) ["Address-based population registration system (ADNKS) results dated 31 December 2022, Favorite Reports"](https://biruni.tuik.gov.tr/medas/?kn=95&locale=en) (XLS). [TÜİK](/source/T%C3%9C%C4%B0K). Retrieved 19 September 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["İl ve İlçe Yüz ölçümleri"](https://www.harita.gov.tr/uploads/files-folder/il_ilce_alanlari.xlsx). General Directorate of Mapping. Retrieved 19 September 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEŞimşek209_3-0)** [Şimşek](#CITEREFŞimşek), p. 209.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Первая всеобщая перепись населения Российской Империи 1897 г. Распределение населения по родному языку и уездам. Российской Империи кроме губерний Европейской России"](http://www.demoscope.ru/weekly/ssp/emp_lan_97_uezd.php?reg=405). *Demoscope* (in Russian). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210225113145/http://www.demoscope.ru/weekly/ssp/emp_lan_97_uezd.php?reg=405) from the original on 2021-02-25. Retrieved 8 January 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Первая всеобщая перепись населения Российской Империи 1897 г. Распределение населения по родному языку и уездам. Российской Империи кроме губерний Европейской России"](http://www.demoscope.ru/weekly/ssp/emp_lan_97_uezd.php?reg=406). *Demoscope* (in Russian). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20140417115400/http://demoscope.ru/weekly/ssp/emp_lan_97_uezd.php?reg=406) from the original on 2014-04-17. Retrieved 8 January 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEŞimşek210_6-0)** [Şimşek](#CITEREFŞimşek), p. 210.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEŞimşek221_7-0)** [Şimşek](#CITEREFŞimşek), p. 221.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEŞimşek224_8-0)** [Şimşek](#CITEREFŞimşek), p. 224.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Ural, Selçuk (2016). ["Atatürk Dönemi Iğdır'da Nüfus Sayımları (1923- 1938)"](https://www.kafkas.edu.tr/dosyalar/sobedergi/file/18/13.pdf) (PDF). *Kafkas University Journal of the Institute of Social Sciences* (in Turkish). [Kafkas University](/source/Kafkas_University): 525.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** [Strabo](/source/Strabo). *[Geographica](/source/Geographica)*. [11.14.7](http://perseus.uchicago.edu/perseus-cgi/citequery3.pl?dbname=GreekFeb2011&query=Str.%2011.14.7&getid=1) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20140201223623/http://perseus.uchicago.edu/perseus-cgi/citequery3.pl?dbname=GreekFeb2011&query=Str.%2011.14.7&getid=1) 2014-02-01 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ASE_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ASE_11-1) (in Armenian) «Արդահան» [Ardahan]. [Armenian Soviet Encyclopedia](/source/Armenian_Soviet_Encyclopedia). Yerevan: Armenian Academy of Sciences, 1976, vol. ii, p. 7.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-otm-enc_12-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-otm-enc_12-1) Gábor Ágoston; Bruce Alan Masters (2009-01-01). [*Encyclopedia of the Ottoman Empire*](https://books.google.com/books?id=QjzYdCxumFcC&pg=PA141). Infobase Publishing. p. 141. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-4381-1025-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-4381-1025-7). Retrieved 2013-06-01.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-hist-geo_13-0)** D. E. Pitcher (1972). [*An Historical Geography of the Ottoman Empire: From Earliest Times to the End of the Sixteenth Century*](https://books.google.com/books?id=8gs4AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA140). Brill Archive. p. 140. GGKEY:4CFA3RCNXRP. Retrieved 2013-06-01.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-law3806_14-0)** [Kanun No. 3806](https://www.resmigazete.gov.tr/arsiv/21247_1.pdf), Resmî Gazete, 3 June 1992.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["İl İdaresi ve Mülki Bölümler Şube Müdürlüğü İstatistikleri - İl ve İlçe Kuruluş Tarihleri"](https://www.icisleri.gov.tr/kurumlar/icisleri.gov.tr/IcSite/illeridaresi/İstatistiki%20Bilgiler/İl%20İdaresi%20ve%20Mülki%20Bölümler/il%20ilce%20kurulus%20tarihleri_2019.pdf) (PDF) (in Turkish). p. 11. Retrieved 25 October 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Climate.org_16-0)** ["Climate:Ardahan"](http://en.climate-data.org/region/695/). Climate-data.org. Retrieved 2016-06-09.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Ardahan'da "Atatürk Silueti" görülmeye başlandı"](https://www.ntv.com.tr/galeri/seyahat/ardahanda-ataturk-silueti-gorulmeye-baslandi,jqcEH5dVwU6oPHBYrDReXQ).

v t e Ardahan Province of Turkey Districts Ardahan Çıldır Damal Göle Hanak Posof Districts of Ardahan List of provinces by region Istanbul Istanbul West Marmara Balıkesir Çanakkale Edirne Kırklareli Tekirdağ Aegean Afyonkarahisar Aydın Denizli İzmir Kütahya Manisa Muğla Uşak East Marmara Bilecik Bursa Düzce Eskişehir Kocaeli Sakarya Yalova West Anatolia Ankara Karaman Konya Mediterranean Adana Antalya Burdur Hatay Isparta Kahramanmaraş Mersin Osmaniye Central Anatolia Aksaray Kayseri Kırıkkale Kırşehir Nevşehir Niğde Sivas Yozgat West Black Sea Amasya Bartın Bolu Çankırı Çorum Karabük Kastamonu Samsun Sinop Tokat Zonguldak East Black Sea Artvin Giresun Gümüşhane Ordu Rize Trabzon Northeast Anatolia Ağrı Ardahan Bayburt Erzincan Erzurum Iğdır Kars Central East Anatolia Bingöl Bitlis Elazığ Hakkâri Malatya Muş Tunceli Van Southeast Anatolia Adıyaman Batman Diyarbakır Gaziantep Kilis Mardin Siirt Şanlıurfa Şırnak Metropolitan municipalities are bolded.

v t e Provinces of Turkey Adana Adıyaman Afyonkarahisar Ağrı Aksaray Amasya Ankara Antalya Ardahan Artvin Aydın Balıkesir Bartın Batman Bayburt Bilecik Bingöl Bitlis Bolu Burdur Bursa Çanakkale Çankırı Çorum Denizli Diyarbakır Düzce Edirne Elazığ Erzincan Erzurum Eskişehir Gaziantep Giresun Gümüşhane Hakkâri Hatay Iğdır Isparta Istanbul İzmir Kahramanmaraş Karabük Karaman Kars Kastamonu Kayseri Kilis Kırıkkale Kırklareli Kırşehir Kocaeli Konya Kütahya Malatya Manisa Mardin Mersin Muğla Muş Nevşehir Niğde Ordu Osmaniye Rize Sakarya Samsun Siirt Sinop Sivas Şanlıurfa Şırnak Tekirdağ Tokat Trabzon Tunceli Uşak Van Yalova Yozgat Zonguldak Metropolitan municipalities are bolded.

Authority control databases International VIAF 2 National Israel Geographic MusicBrainz area

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ardahan Province](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ardahan_Province) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ardahan_Province?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.