Erzincan
- Eastern Anatolia Region
About Erzincan
Erzincan, in the Upper Euphrates section of Türkiye's Eastern Anatolia Region, covers 11,903 square kilometres and has a population of 239,625 according to 2025 data from TÜİK (the Turkish Statistical Institute). The province is mostly covered with mountains and plateaus. It borders Erzurum to the east, Sivas to the west, Tunceli to the south, Bingöl to the southeast, Elazığ and Malatya to the southwest, Gümüşhane and Bayburt to the north and Giresun to the northwest.
Erzincan's economy is based on farming and livestock. The sugar, meat and dairy factories in the centre have helped cattle fattening grow. Among its dairy products, Erzincan's tulum peyniri (a crumbly cheese ripened in a skin) is especially famous. Thanks to its fertile land, it has been home to many civilisations, among them, from around 2000 BC, the Hayasa, Hurrians, Hittites, Assyrians, Urartians, Scythians, Medes, Persians and Armenians.
With many historic treasures such as Kemah Castle, one of the oldest natural fortresses in Anatolia, the Abrenk Church and the Mamahatun Caravanserai, Erzincan is also very valuable for tourism.
Erzincan's famous dishes and desserts
Kelecoş
In Erzincan, kelecoş is made by pouring meat fried with onions over yufka (thin flatbread) softened with kurut ayranı (a drink made from dried yogurt).
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Kemah tiridi
Strips cut from a yeasted dough are baked until crisp and served with boiled lamb and its broth.
Keşkek
In Erzincan it is a tradition to eat keşkek (pounded wheat and meat) on the morning of a religious holiday; it is cooked in neighbourhood ovens the day before.
Gasefe
A dessert of boiled apricots drizzled with butter, with walnuts or hazelnuts added to taste.
Kahküllü pilav
A pilaf made with dried green beans.
Erzincan lokumu
A crumbly tea biscuit made with butter and oil and finished with icing sugar.
Erzincan soup with green beans and meatballs, served with noodles
Erzincan çorbası (Erzincan soup)
Small meatballs are simmered with green beans and flavoured with garlic, parsley and dill.
Yaprak sarma (stuffed vine leaves)
A stuffed leaf dish made in Erzincan for special occasions, holidays and weddings.
Kete
Rolled-out dough is filled with toasted flour and baked; it is eaten instead of bread at breakfast.
Kaygana
A pancake-like dish made with plenty of eggs, cooked especially for holiday breakfasts.
Çökelek piyazı
A salad of finely chopped dill, parsley and spring onion mixed with çökelek (a dry curd cheese).
Sarığı burma
A syrup-soaked dessert made with plenty of walnuts, rolled out with an oklava (thin rolling pin) and twisted into shape; the name means “twisted turban”.
Ayva kalyesi
A meat dish in which quince is used instead of potato; it is associated with the cuisine of Kemaliye (formerly Eğin).
Places to visit in Erzincan
Kadıgölü, Erzincan
It is in the Kemaliye district and is one of the most peaceful places in the province. It has almost every shade of green, and its cold springs are wonderful. This lake, formed by groundwater coming down from the high mountains, once supplied the district's electricity, and work is under way to bring this back into operation. A trout farm has also been set up here. The district's largest mosque, the Orta Cami (Middle Mosque), is here too, and visitors usually see the mosque as well.
Beytahtı picnic area, Erzincan
This picnic area, used by local people especially in good weather, is on the banks of the Karasu River. With its cold springs, this lush green spot is the first choice for people wanting a picnic. If you want to be close to nature, come to this picnic area 15 km from Erzincan.
Mama Hatun Caravanserai, Erzincan
This caravanserai in the Tercan district is a very large and complex building. Its history, reaching back to the Saltukids, also draws interest. Unfortunately, repairs have spoiled its original character. Besides the caravanserai there is the Mama Hatun Tomb and a hamam. Easy to reach, the caravanserai is thought to have been built between 1192 and 1202. Its inscription is badly worn, so little information has been obtained from it, but it can be read that its architect was Ebun-Nema bin Mufaddal of Ahlat. It was built in the name of the Saltukid princess Mama Hatun.
Aygır Lake, Erzincan
This lake, 45 km from the city centre, is in the Üzümlü district. It is one of the largest crater lakes in our country and very important for tourism. You can also go camping, take a boat trip or go trekking. It is a place that charms with its natural beauty.
Tomb of Melik Gazi, Erzincan
A tomb belonging to Melik Gazi, founder of the Mengücek Beylik. The tomb, in the Kemah district, stands on a high hill on the banks of the Euphrates. This octagonal, two-storey tomb has unfortunately deteriorated because it was opened at various times. It was last repaired in 1991.
Erzincan Museum
This museum, open since 1986, displays very important objects. Samples taken from the province, such as minerals, stones, soils, crystals and rocks, are kept and displayed. Other exhibits include fossils, single-celled plants and animals, lichens kept in conditions suited to their natural environment, invertebrates, the fish species living in the province, amphibians, and the skins and skeletons of animals living in the province that are endangered, and more. Archaeological and ethnographic objects are of course also displayed.
Otlukbeli Lake, Erzincan
As its name suggests, the lake is in the Otlukbeli district and is one of the province's most popular places. Local people and domestic and foreign tourists often use it as a picnic area. It is 6 km from the district and covers 6,500 square metres. The lake's depth starts at about 15 metres and reaches 20 metres. The lake became a Natural Protected Area in 1994.
Girlevik Waterfall, Erzincan
The waterfall, one of the province's natural beauties, is 30 km from the city centre. Its water falls in pieces over the rocks. Like Kadıgölü, it is one of the most relaxing places in the province. You can have a picnic or eat trout or grilled food in the restaurants near the waterfall. The waterfall is in the town of Çağlayan, part of the central district.
Sakaltutan Ski Centre, Erzincan
Erzincan is surely one of the first cities that come to mind when you think of cold. It would be a shame for our country if such a cold city had no ski centre. Thankfully it has one, and it is a favourite with skiers. This centre, 44 km from the city centre, is ideal especially for a winter holiday. The facility has accommodation with 60 beds, a 100-seat restaurant, sports rooms and a sauna. The ski run is 1,026 metres long and has a ski lift with 110 hangers.
Ergan Ski Centre
The province's other ski centre is the Ergan Ski Centre, also in the central district. This centre, 12 kilometres from the city centre, has a gondola and chairlift system with some of the longest lifts in our country. It is more developed than the Sakaltutan Ski Centre. It has runs 1,800 metres, 2,662 metres and 2,455 metres long, in 2 stages: one starts at Ardıçlı Lake and the other at Yayla Düzü. As an advanced, well-equipped ski centre, Ergan should be your first choice.
Kemah Castle, Erzincan
As its name suggests, the castle is in the Kemah district and is an important tourist site. It has been home to many civilisations and was an important defensive point, especially in wartime. Evliya Çelebi also mentions the castle in his work, the Seyahatname (Book of Travels), and gives information about it.
Other places to see in Erzincan
- Karanlık Kanyon (Dark Canyon), Erzincan
- Erzincan Ilıcası (Erzincan Hot Spring)
- Gülabibey Mosque, Erzincan
- Köroğlu Cave, Erzincan
- Ekşisu Hot Spring, Erzincan
- Tomb of Hıdır Abdal Sultan, Erzincan
- Abrenk Church, Erzincan
- Munzur Mountains
- Altıntepe archaeological site, Erzincan
Culture and arts in Erzincan
The halay (a line dance) holds an important place in Erzincan, and the most famous is the Erzincan Düzü. In Refahiye people dance the dik horon, halay and bar; in İliç and Kemaliye the dik halay and bar; and in Çayırlı, Otlukbeli and Tercan the bar.
The dialect of the centre is counted among the Eastern Anatolian dialects. Besides Turkish, Kurdish and Zazaki are spoken in the province. The influence of the cultures of neighbouring provinces such as Erzurum, Bayburt, Sivas, Elazığ and Malatya can be seen in the districts.
History of Erzincan
The name Erzincan is said to come from the city of Eriza, which Strabo mentions in the region. The Hurrians and Hayasa-Azzi lived in the region. The Altıntepe excavations, which began in 1953, show Urartian rule.
For a time the city was the capital of the Mengüçlü (Mengujekid) Beylik. Alaeddin Keykubad (Kayqubad I) took Erzincan and Kemah in 1228 and ended the beylik. After the Battle of Kösedağ in 1243 the region passed to the Ilkhanids, and after the Battle of Chaldiran in 1514 it came under Ottoman rule.
The Russians occupied the city on 11 July 1916; troops under Kazım Karabekir liberated Erzincan on 13 February 1918.
In the magnitude 7.9 earthquake of 27 December 1939, 30,962 people lost their lives; the city was later rebuilt above the railway. In the magnitude 6.8 earthquake of 13 March 1992, 653 people died.
Getting to Erzincan
Erzincan can be reached by rail, road and air. There are flights and bus services from Türkiye's big cities. The airport is 7 kilometres from the city centre. For those travelling by car, Erzincan is 1,036 kilometres from Istanbul, 688 kilometres from Ankara, 1,278 kilometres from İzmir, 742 kilometres from Adana and 445 kilometres from Samsun.
Districts of Erzincan
- Çayırlı
- Ilıç (İliç)
- Kemah
- Kemaliye
- Merkez (central district)
- Otlukbeli
- Refahiye
- Tercan
- Üzümlü
Economy of Erzincan
The people of Erzincan earn their living from farming, livestock and trade. Wheat, barley, rye, potatoes and sugar beet are named among the most widely grown crops.
The province also has a significant share of Türkiye's sheep, goats and cattle and of its beehives.
Industry is concentrated in the Erzincan Organised Industrial Zone, about 373 hectares in size.
Sport in Erzincan
For outdoor sports, Erzincan is almost unique in Türkiye, and if it is given the attention it deserves, it will take its place in the world in the coming years. The main reason I say this is that many outdoor sports can be done in Erzincan within a very small area.
Yet this diamond is not being cut, so it cannot serve the public or bring income to the city. Sadly, apart from a few institutions and the late governor Recep Yazıcıoğlu, nobody has put effort into it. Since we as individuals, as well as institutions, should do our part, I believe we can at least contribute to promotion.
Outdoor sports you can do in Erzincan
Winter sports
Erzincan already has the Yıldırım Akbulut ski facilities on the Sivas road, where you can ski. When the Ergan Mountain project now being prepared is carried out, a project our Minister of Tourism Atilla Koç said he would follow closely when he visited Erzincan recently, many of the area's shortcomings in this field will be remedied. The project plans to set up a climbing route on Mount Ergan this year, and aims for skiing in the winter months.
Athletes in EDKİK (the Erzincan Mountaineering and Skiing Specialist Club) and the Faculty of Education Mountaineering Club are also working to develop skiing.
Paragliding
Erzincan offers rich opportunities for paragliding. The Çakırman area and Yaylabaşı are especially suitable. The Erzincan Municipality and the Yaylabaşı Municipality have professional paragliding teams.
Rafting
Rafting takes place on the Karasu River, which flows through Erzincan. Challenging courses stand out especially in the Sansa and Kemah gorges and the Kemaliye and İliç areas. It is taught with professional instructors under the Erzincan Munzur Fırat Outdoor Sports Association, and more people take an interest every day.
Canoeing
In Erzincan you can canoe on the Tercan dam lake, Mertekli pond and the Göyne dam lake. Training is given by the Erzincan Munzur Fırat Outdoor Sports Association.
Water skiing
I don't know if you remember: Governor Recep Yazıcıoğlu tried all these sports to draw attention to the region, and there was a memorable image of him water skiing at the time.
You can do this sport on all the lakes used for canoeing.
Off-road driving
Although it is a motor sport, it can be included here because the terrain is natural. The flat Erzincan plain, which offers driving in tough terrain conditions, awaits enthusiasts. Members of the Hunting and Shooting Association regularly practise this sport with off-road vehicles, adding variety to outdoor sports in the city.
Rock climbing
Mountaineers of EDKİK hold climbing and abseiling events on rocks in various parts of the province, especially at Kalecik (near the Girlevik waterfall).
Ice and rock climbing can also be done on the Girlevik waterfall when it freezes in winter.
Hiking and camping
These activities, held regularly by the Erzincan Munzur Fırat Outdoor Sports Association, EDKİK and the Faculty of Education Mountaineering Club, take place in the Munzur and Keşiş mountains, which offer plenty of scope.
Source: http://wowturkey.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=40936
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