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ÞANLIURFA
Area:
18.584 km²
 The
history of Sanlýurfa can be traced back around 9000 years and
the atmosphere is one of living history, where traditional life,
culture and even clothing is more akin to the Middle East with
Turkish, Kurdish and Arabic all being spoken. Sanliurfa (often
referred to as Urfa) is also a place of pilgrimage for many
religions, containing what is thought to be the birthplace of
the prophet Abraham. According to Jewish and Muslim scriptures,
he was summonsed by God whilst living here.
The traditional
and religious conservatism, combined with the ancient historical
monuments, has also given it the name City of the Prophets and
has made Urfa a unique place to visit. Away from the city, the
ancient village and genuine living museum Harran with its famous
bee-hive type houses, has been continuously inhabited for more
than 6000 years.
HARRAN
The historical
settlement of Harran, 44km south of Sanliurfa, was mentioned in
the Old Testament as the place where Abraham lived before going
to Canaan. Islamic historians connect the area to the grandson
of the prophet Noah, and also Aaron (Harran) the brother of
Abraham. Har-ra-na was mentioned in ancient inscriptions found
in Kultepe and Mari dating back to 2000 BC, and also stone
tablets found in northern Syria.
Traders used to
stay in Harran, which gave the region close commercial relations
with Anatolia, and for many centuries it was on the flourishing
trade route between Mesopotamia and Anatolia which enabled a
rich and diverse culture to infiltrate the area. The ancient
town was also famous as an important centre of Mesopotamian
idolatry, and its followers believed the sun, moon and planets
to be holy which meant that the science of astronomy was well
developed here.
The beehive
houses of Harran were probably designed in the 3rd century BC,
and the site is considered to be the oldest continuously
inhabited place in the world. Today, few people actually live in
the huts and those that remain were built as recently as 200
years ago. The kale (fortress) stands on the eastern side of the
hill, and was originally built during the Hittite period and
restored by the Crusaders. Its eastern gate still shows the
carvings of chained dogs. The 4km long wall, most of it
crumbling, has 187 towers and the remains of a 10-sided tower,
and plenty of ruins to explore.
THERMAL RESORTS
The nearest
thermal spring is at Balikli lake. (Aynzeliha and Halil - Ür
Rahman lakes) those two lakes place south west of Urfa city
center known as the fall place of prophet Abraham hem thrown in
fires, is the most visitor charming places of Urfa with holy
fishes and surrounding historical buildings.
When Prophet
Abraham start to fight against tyrannical ruler of period Nemrut
and idols that people pray and start to broadcast the ideology
of Monotheism, thrown in to fire from the hill of today's castle
by Nemrut. At this moment fire ordered as " O fire, be cold and
safety for Abraham" by God. By this order fire transformed to
water and wood transformed to fishes. Prophet Abraham fall in
rose yard with in safe. The pla prophet Abraham fall is Halil -
ür Rahman lake. According to rumor Zeliha the daughter of Nemrut
whom believes Prophet Abraham jump in fire after him, the place
she fall is transformed to Aynzeliha Lake. Fishes of the both
lakes are accepted holy, don't eaten and protected from local
people.
ORNITHOLOGY AREAS
Kelaynak
Birds: Kelaynak birds
their specie come to an extinction on earth and they only live
in Birecik in Turkey, is the most interesting animal specie
lives in Þanliurfa region. Kelaynak birds belongs to Ibidae
lineage, their heads and necks are bold so they called with this
name (it means bold aynak). Kelaynak birds other than Birecik
live at Fas and Cezayir, in winters months they migrate to
Ethiopia and Madagascar start to migrate from Birecik near the
February middle . They make nest on rocky slopes, they back
after laying egg period near the July middles. Every year
Kelaynak festival assembled in Birecik. |
