Adapazarı (pronounced[ɑˈdɑpɑzɑɾɯ]) is a municipality and the capitaldistrict ofSakarya Province,Turkey.[2] Its area is 324 km2,[3] and its population 281,489 (2022).[1] It covers the central and northern part of the agglomeration of Adapazarı and the adjacent countryside.
One of the most important remains of historical significance is theSangarius Bridge (Turkish:Beş Köprü) built byByzantine EmperorJustinian in 533 AD. Historically, it was situated on the old military road fromConstantinople (nowIstanbul) to the east, connected, since the end of the 19th century, by a branch line with theAnatolianrailway.[4] It was founded in 1400 by 400Armenian immigrant families who escaped fromTimur's oppression inSivas and was named "Donigaşen" after the name of their leaders. Today's inhabitants areManavs. The nativeMuslims areArmenians andGreeks who gradually converted toIslam, and it should not be ignored thatTurk households settled in the region. Adapazarı's known name inTurkish at that time was Adacık and Ada. The source of the information that the region was conquered byOrhan Gazi and opened to settlement is also unknown.[5][6][7][8]
Ruins of the 12th century Byzantine castle.
In 1868, the Adapazarı Municipality was officially founded in the town called Der Seadet. A sugar factory and agricultural sugar factory attracted many migrants and accelerated the industrialization of the city. A law passed on 17 June 1954 in the Grand National Assembly saw the city separated from Kocaeli Province and made the center of its own province. The1999 Marmara earthquake affected Adapazarı and inflicted losses in lives and material damage. In 2008 the district Adapazarı was created from part of the former central district of Adapazarı Province, along with the districtsArifiye,Erenler andSerdivan. At the same time, the province was renamed Sakarya after theSakarya River which runs through it.[9][10]
Sakarya MuseumSakarya Kent ParkNew Sakarya StadiumSakarya ArenaAdapazarı Orhan Mosque
Adapazarı is the location of a large automobile factory owned by theToyota Motor Corporation, as well as theHyundai EURotem train factory. Tank Pallet 1st Main Maintenance, one of the biggest Turkish defense contractors, andOtokar, a major manufacturer of buses and military vehicles, are located in Sakarya. Other major industries in the city and itssurrounding province include textile factories forsilk andlinen products. Agriculture and forestry also form an important part of the city's economy, with the production oftobacco, hazelnuts (fındık variety),walnut-wood,cocoons andvegetables. Adapazari is one of the most important industrial capitals of Turkey. While Turkey is a developing country, the city of Adapazari renovated its infrastructure and industry after the 17 August 1999 catastrophic earthquake which left more than 18,000 casualties behind. In memory of the earthquake, the municipality had built a museum of earthquake in the city center.
The only university in the city isSakarya University, one of the largest universities in Turkey in terms of student enrollment. Since its establishment in 1992, Sakarya University has influenced the culture of the city and transformed public life.
In addition to the university, many different institutions shape and influence the culture of the city. Adapazarı Kültür Merkezi (Adapazarı Culture Center), Ofis Sanat Merkezi (Ofis Art Center), and Sakarya Sanat Galerisi (Sakarya Art Gallery) are the main cultural institutions led by the municipality. Adapazari also hosts non-governmental cultural and educational organizations. Of them, Sakarya Bilgi Kültür Merkezi provides educational and cultural activities.
Kent Park features an authentic, picturesque reconstruction of an historic water wheel that once provided fresh drinking water from the Çark River to public spigots located every few blocks throughout the city. The original wooden water wheel, commonly known as the Çark Wheel, was maintained and refurbished to operate in one form or another from 1724 to 1955.
Adapazarı has ahumid subtropical climate (Köppen:Cfa,Trewartha:Cf). Summers are hot and sometimes oppressively humid, the average maximum temperature is around 30 °C in July and August. Winters are cool and wet, the lowest average minimum temperature is slightly below 4 °C in January. Precipitation is plentiful, fairly evenly distributed year-round, and is most frequent in winter. Snowfall is somewhat common between the months of December and March, snowing for a week or two, and it can be heavy.
Highest recorded temperature:44.0 °C (111.2 °F) on 13 July 2000 Lowest recorded temperature:−14.5 °C (5.9 °F) on 22 January 1961[12]
Climate data for Adapazarı (1991–2020, extremes 1951–2023)
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