Şanlıurfa known as ancient Edessa

Şanlıurfa is located in our country’s south-eastern Anatolian region. It is surrounded by to the east of it Mardin, west of it Gaziantep, north of it Adıyaman and Diyarbakır, to the south the Syrian border. It is one of the oldest settlement centres of the Mesopotamia. The largest portion of the city is not very high in altitude and is made up of plains and broad meadows.

Şanlıurfa is the central position of the world’s and Turkey’s most important regional development project GAP (Güneydoğu Anadolu Projesi / South-Eastern Anatolia Project).

The Fırat River forms a natural border from the west, northwest and north of the province’s territories. The Harran Plain and the Fırat River, which irrigates its surroundings, begins by entering within the Siverek Maktalan passage area and flows to Syria. The Atatürk Dam, Birecik Dam, Karakaya and Kargamış Dams are located on the Fırat River.

Şanlıurfa, one of the oldest settlements of the Mesopotamia, is accepted as the world’s centre of culture and civilisation and is located in the region where in archaeological literature it is named “Rich Crescent” (“Bereketli Hilal”). Throughout history it has always been a strategically important due to it being close to water resources and on trade routes.

Especially, the architectural history around Balıklıgöl which dates back to 11.000 years ago, meaning it has been proven to be from the Neolithic Age. This age is considered the birth of architectural art in Anatolian soil. Today, in terms of architectural works it is one of Turkey’s most important cities and this feature is the reason that the city is remembered as a “Museum City” (“Müze Şehir”).