Adapazarı (pronounced[ɑˈdɑpɑzɑɾɯ]) is a municipality and the capital district of Sakarya Province, Turkey.[2] Its area is 324 km2,[3] and its population is 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 the Sangarius Bridge (Turkish: Beş Köprü) built by Byzantine EmperorJustinian in 533 AD. Historically, it was situated on the old military road from Constantinople (now Istanbul) to the east, connected, since the end of the 19th century, by a branch line with the Anatolianrailway.[4] It was founded in 1400 by 400 Armenian immigrant families who escaped from Timur's oppression in Sivas and was named "Donigaşen" after the name of their leaders. Today's inhabitants are Manavs. The Native Muslims are Armenians and Greeks who gradually converted to Islam, and it should not be ignored that Turk households settled in the region. Adapazarı's known name in Turkish at that time was Adacık and Ada. The source of the information that the region was conquered by Orhan Gazi and opened to settlement is also unknown.[5][6][7][8]
In 1868, the Adapazarı Municipality was officially founded on 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. The 1999 Marmara earthquake affected Adapazarı and inflicted losses in lives and damage. In 2008 the district Adapazarı was created from part of the former central district of Adapazarı Province, along with the districts Arifiye, Erenler and Serdivan. At the same time, the province was renamed Sakarya after the Sakarya River which runs through it.[9][10]
Economy
Adapazarı is the location of a large automobile factory owned by the Toyota Motor Corporation, as well as the Hyundai EURotem train factory. Tank Pallet 1st Main Maintenance, one of the biggest Turkish defense contractors, and Otokar, a major manufacturer of buses and military vehicles, are located in Sakarya. Other major industries in the city and its surrounding province include textile factories for silk and linen products. Agriculture and forestry also form an important part of the city's economy, with the production of tobacco, hazelnuts (fındık variety), walnut-wood, cocoons and vegetables. 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 municipality had built a museum of earthquake in city center.
Education and culture
The only university in the city is Sakarya 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 a humid 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)