Orientation
One of the cities of Marmara Region on the Sakarya Valley and along the E-5 state road. The Sakarya (Sangrion) River passes by the city which helps the local agricultural economy tremendously. Original name of this city was Tığcılar during the 16th Century, but because of its view as an island since it is situated in between of two rivers (Sakarya and Çarksuyu) and vegetable and fruit markets were set up here, the city, in time, took the name of Adapazarı (=Island Market). As it was a small village before, due to the migration of the people from the areas lost by the Ottoman Empire in the 19th century and the Bagdat Railways passing from this place, caused Adapazarı to improve economically and industrially, and became the capital city of Sakarya Province.
Being a pretty new city, the only historical remain in the city is Victor Orhan's Mosque which was renovated during the 19th century. The places of interest would be Tersiye Tumulus which is dated to the 1st century AD in the Küçük Esence (Küçük Tersiye) Village of Adapazarı, Küçücek Village Tumulus, again dating to the 1st century AD, is about 31 kms./19 miles to the south-east of the city, Kaynarca and Akgöl (White Lake) are the natural resorts and camping areas around Adapazarı.
Below is the list of the most known dishes:
Islama Köfte (Wet meat-ball)
Sütlü Kabak Tatlısı (Pumpkin Dessert with Milk)
Kabak Tatlısı (Pumpkin Dessert)
Kabaklı Kol Böreği (Pastry with Pumpkin)
Çerkes Tavuğu (Circassian Chicken)
Peynirli Çerkes Pastası (Circassian Cake with Cheese)
Ezme Fasulye (Mashed Beans)
The province of Sakarya is pretty rich as far as the natural vegetation. The surface of the mountains, which are the extentions of the Black Sea Mountain Range, is covered with thick forest of various trees. Beech (Fagus Sylvatica), Hornbeam (Carpinus Betulus), Poplar (Populus), Chestnut (Castanea dentata), Linden (Tilia europaea), Plane-tree (Sycamur) (Platanus orientalis), Birch and Oak (Quercus) are some of the trees forming the forest of this area. After 700 meters/2300 feet of altitude above sea-level, Coniferae or Pinales (Pine trees) can be seen. In the east of Adapazarı, there are Ash tree (Fraxinus ornus) forests as well as around Lake Acar and amongst these are the presence of Alder (Alnus) and Elm (Ulmus).
The agricultural (farming) vegetation is scarce in the plain area and Lower Sakarya Valley. With the exception of the meadows and the skirts of the hills, the few agricultural productions are Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus), Strawberry (Arbutus unedo). Additionally, short plants similar to the ones seen in the Mediterranean climate.
Below is the chronological history of the area:
12th B.C. Occupation of the Briggs
7th Domination of the Bithinians
547-546 Principalities of the Lydians
7th to 560 A.D. The Byzantine Era. Emperor Justinian I (The Great) builds a bridge over the River Sakarya (ancient River Sangarios).
11th century was the time when the area was divided into two regions with the border control castles built on both sides of this river by the Byzantines and the Selçuk Turks.
1071 Selçuk Era.
1313 Ottoman Turks capture the whole area.
1536 a village
1559 a sub-town
1646 a town
1658 a village again
1692 a town again
19th century: Migration of the various peoples because of Crimean War, Sheyh Shamil incident and Ottoman-Russian War.
1837 a town attached to İzmit Province during the reign of Ottoman Sultan Mahmut II
1868 Establishment of Municipality
1
877-1878 Dense migration from Caucasus and Balkan areas
1890 Connection of İzmit and Arifiye rail roads.
June 21, 1921 Liberty Day of Adapazarı from Greek invasion
1954 Sakarya becomes a province and Adapazarı a city.
1999 Severe earthquake in Adapazarı (In this earthquake 18000 people were killed and 25000 people were bodily and mentally injured)
2001 Adapazarı becomes a metropolitan city
Literally translated, the meaning of 'Adapazarı' is 'The Market Area or Bazaar of Island'. The reason that this name was given to the city was that during the 14th century (during the reign of the Ottoman Sultan Orhan - the second emperor of the Ottoman Empire), this place, which was taken from the Byzantines, was called Island Village. Later, the village was expanded by 12 local families, and upon the improvement of agriculture, the area was atrracted by their various markets. In the 16th century, the increase of the population caused this area to be a town.
Adapazarı, which became the metropolitan city of Sakarya Province on 17 June 1954, was hit by a severe earthquakes on 17 August 1999 which killed 3988 people, 5180 people were injured and 81702 accomodation and business properties were destroyed in different levels just within the Sakarya Province.
