ABOUT SARIKAMIŞ

Sarıkamış

Sarıkamış is a district of Kars province located in the Eastern Anatolia Region of Turkey. The district center is approximately 2100 meters above sea level and covers an area of 1971 km². The population of Sarıkamış in 2018 was recorded as 42,683. Sarıkamış, which stands out with its natural beauty, yellow pine forests and winter tourism opportunities, is a place that attracts visitors with its ski resorts and historical monuments.

Etymology

There are various legends about the origin of the district name. According to one of the most common legends, it is said that a Turkish bey who was active in the region gave his land in exchange for a turban and food, and thus the name was adopted. According to another legend, the name "Sarıkamış" was given due to the yellow reeds in the dried Bebek Lake. It is also stated that the name is connected to a Turkish tribe that migrated from the Sarıkamış depression between the Caspian Sea and the Aral Lake.

History

The region where Sarıkamış is located has been settled since the Byzantine period according to historical sources. With the Seljuk Sultan Alp Arslan's capture of the region in 1064, Muslim Turkish rule began. The Sarıkamış Operation that took place between the Ottoman and Russian armies during World War I resulted in great losses for the Ottoman army; approximately 90,000 Ottoman soldiers froze to death in this operation. After the war, Sarıkamış remained under Russian occupation for about forty years, during which the 19th-century Czar Nicholas (Catherine) Mansion, built by Russian Czar Nicholas II in Upper Sarıkamış, was constructed. This mansion and other historical structures in the region are important for cultural tourism today.

Population

The population of Sarıkamış has fluctuated over time. The district population, which was 35,336 in 1927, rose to 57,026 by 2000, and began to decline from the beginning of the 21st century due to migration and other factors. The district population, which was 42,683 in 2018, has decreased to approximately 40,158 according to 2020 estimates. The rural population is higher than the district center.

Winter Sports and Tourism

Sarıkamış is one of Turkey's important winter tourism centers. There is a 12 km long ski track with 5 stages in the Bayraktepe area at 2500 meters altitude in the district. The snow quality in Sarıkamış is classified worldwide as Alpine-type "crystal snow"; under typical winter conditions, the snow depth varies between 8–120 cm during the winter season (approximately 4–6 months). The heaviest snowfall occurs in December–March, during which winter sports such as skiing, sledding and snowboarding attract great interest.

In addition, there are many historical castle ruins such as Zivin, Micingirt, Kızlar, and Köroğlu in the valleys around Sarıkamış. The 19th-century Czar Nicholas (Catherine) Mansion located in Upper Sarıkamış is one of the best-known historical structures in the region and is a tourist attraction that draws visitors. Hiking trails have also been developed in the region, offering potential for nature tourism.

The Snow Festival held every year in February is one of the events that enlivens winter tourism in Sarıkamış. This festival offers colorful activities to domestic and foreign tourists with events such as horse-drawn sled shows, sled races, volleyball on snow and off-road activities. In addition, with the Sarıkamış Martyrs Commemoration Program held in the first week of January, the soldiers who froze to death in the 1914–1915 operation are commemorated, and the region hosts its visitors in a melancholic atmosphere with this meaningful program.