Introduction
"Gangra" redirects here. For the genus of moths, see Gangra (moth).
Municipality in TurkeyÇankırıMunicipalityGeneral view of Çankırı
Coat of armsÇankırıLocation in TurkeyShow map of TurkeyÇankırıÇankırı (Turkey Central Anatolia)Show map of Turkey Central AnatoliaCoordinates: 40°35′55″N 33°37′09″E / 40.59861°N 33.61917°E / 40.59861; 33.61917CountryTurkeyProvinceÇankırıDistrictÇankırıGovernment • Mayorİsmail Hakkı Esen (MHP)Elevation800 m (2,600 ft)Population (2021)90,564Time zoneUTC+3 (TRT)Area code0376Websitecankiri.bel.tr
Çankırı is a city in Turkey, about 140 km (87 mi) northeast of Ankara. It is situated about 800 m (2500 ft) above sea level. It is the seat of Çankırı Province and of Çankırı District. Its population is 90,564 (2021).
History
[edit]
Courtyard of Çankırı Museum
Historical affiliations
Hittites c. 1600–1200 BC
Phrygia c. 800–695 BC
Achaemenid Empire c. 547–333 BC
Macedonian Empire 333–323 BC
Kingdom of Pontus c. 281–63 BC
Roman Empire 63 BC–395 AD
Byzantine Empire 395–1071
Seljuk Empire 1071–1080s
Danishmendids c. 1080–1175
Sultanate of Rum 1175–1243
Ilkhanate 1243–1335
Eretna Beylik 1335–1381
Ottoman Empire c. 1398–1922
Turkey 1923–present
Çankırı Museum building
Çankırı was known in antiquity as Gangra (Greek: Γάγγρα), and later Germanicopolis (Greek: Γερμανικόπολις). The city has also been known as Changra, Kandari, Kanghari, or Kangri.
Α town of Paphlagonia that appears to have been once the capital of Paphlagonia and a princely residence, for it is known from Strabo that Deiotarus Philadelphus (before 31 BC–5/6 AD), the last king of Paphlagonia, resided there. Notwithstanding this, Strabo describes it as only "a small town and a garrison".
A depiction of a carved out animal in Çankırı Salt Cave, underground city.
According to 1st-century BC writer Alexander the Polyhistor the town was built by a goat herder who had found one of his goats straying there; but this origin is probably a mere philological speculation as gangra signifies "a goat" in the Paphlagonian language.
Gangra was absorbed into the Roman province of Galatia upon the death of Deiotarus in 6/5 BC. The earlier town was built on the hill behind the modern city, on which are the ruins of a late fortress, while the Roman city occupied the site of the modern city.
In the writings of the 2nd-century AD Greco-Roman writer Ptolemy, the city is referred to as Germanicopolis (Greek: Γερμανικόπολις). It was named Germanicopolis, after Germanicus or possibly the emperor Claudius, until the time of Caracalla.
In Christian times, Gangra was the metropolitan see of Paphlagonia. Hypatios, bishop of Gangra, is considered a saint in the Orthodox Christian tradition. He was killed by Arians on his return from the Council of Nicaea (325 AD), in which he took part.
In the 4th century, the town was the scene of an important ecclesiastical synod, the Synod of Gangra. There is disagreement about the date of the synod, with dates varying from AD 341 to 376. The synodal letter states that twenty-one bishops assembled to take action concerning Eustathius of Sebaste and his followers. The synod issued twenty canons known as the Canons of Gangra; these were declared ecumenical by the Council of Chalcedon in 451. Under these canons, the sect disowned marriage, disparaged the offices of the church, held conventicles of their own, wore a peculiar dress, denounced riches, and affected special sanctity. The synod condemned the Eustathian practices, declaring however that it was not virginity that was condemned, but the dishonouring of marriage; not poverty, but the disparagement of honest and benevolent wealth; not asceticism, but spiritual pride; not individual piety, but dishonouring the house of God.
In 1400-1401, after a synod the Patriarch Matthew I appointed George Kontophe as metropolitan of Gangra, following a request from its inhabitants, who were being threatened by the Turkomans.
Over the centuries the settlement witnessed the hegemony of many cultures and races, such as Hittites, Persians, ancient Greeks, Parthians, Pontic Greeks, Galatians, Romans, Byzantine Greeks, up to the Seljuks and finally the Ottoman Turks. Traces from its long past are still visible throughout the city. The continuity of the city's name from ancient times across languages is of note: Hangara for the Arabs, Gagra for the Jews and Tzungra or Kângıri or Çankıri for the Turks.
Demographics
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As the administrative centre of Çankırı Province, Çankırı serves as the principal urban settlement of the surrounding region. The city has experienced periods of population growth and decline, reflecting broader migration trends in Central Anatolia and the movement of residents to larger urban centres such as Ankara and Istanbul.
Culture
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Çankırı is widely associated with the traditional Yâran culture, a social institution rooted in the principles of solidarity, hospitality and community participation. The tradition is regarded as a local expression of the medieval Ahi culture of Anatolia and is maintained through organised gatherings known as Yâran meetings.
The city is also known for its traditional architecture, local cuisine and folk customs, which form an important part of the cultural heritage of Central Anatolia.
Tourism
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Çankırı contains a number of historical, cultural and natural attractions. Among the most notable is the Çankırı Salt Cave, one of Turkey's largest rock salt deposits and a site that has been used for salt extraction since antiquity.
Other attractions include Çankırı Castle, the medieval Taş Mescit, traditional Ottoman-era houses and the city's museums. The Yâran cultural tradition is also regarded as an important element of local cultural tourism.
Transport
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Çankırı occupies a strategic location in north-central Turkey and is connected to neighbouring provinces by a network of highways and railways. The city lies approximately 150 km northeast of Ankara and is served by the Ankara–Karabük railway line. The nearest airport is Ankara Esenboğa Airport.
The city's position between Central Anatolia and the western Black Sea region has historically contributed to its role as a regional transportation and commercial centre.
Economy
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Houses in Ilgaz Mountain National Park
Ilgaz Mountain is a famous tourism destination especially for the winter tourism
Agriculture[edit]
Various agricultural produce, including wheat, corn, beans, and apples is grown in the farms and fields.
Industry[edit]
Most industry is concentrated near the Çankırı city center and the town of Korgun. Other towns included in the larger industrial area of the city are Şabanözü, Çerkeş, Ilgaz, Kurşunlu, and Yapraklı.
Education
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Higher education in the city is provided primarily by Çankırı Karatekin University, a public university established in 2007. The university offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes through numerous faculties, institutes and vocational schools and has become one of the city's leading educational institutions.
Archaeology
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The area around Çankırı has yielded archaeological and palaeontological discoveries spanning millions of years. Excavations at the nearby Çorakyerler fossil locality have uncovered numerous Late Miocene animal fossils, making the site one of Turkey's most important palaeontological areas.
The wider region was inhabited during antiquity and formed part of ancient Paphlagonia, later coming under the control of the Kingdom of Pontus, Galatia, the Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire.
Climate
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Çankırı has a dry summer continental climate (Köppen climate classification: Dsa and Dsb) or a humid continental climate (Trewartha climate classification: Dca and Dcb). Other locations to the north of the city center feature more humid characteristics (Köppen climate classification: Dfa and Dfb). Summers are usually hot and dry and winters are cold and snowy. The rainiest month is May, while the driest month is July.
Climate data for Çankırı (1991–2020, extremes 1929–2023)
Month
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Year
Record high °C (°F)
17.6(63.7)
22.0(71.6)
29.0(84.2)
31.0(87.8)
35.5(95.9)
39.6(103.3)
42.4(108.3)
41.8(107.2)
39.8(103.6)
34.2(93.6)
25.1(77.2)
18.2(64.8)
42.4(108.3)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)
3.9(39.0)
7.0(44.6)
12.8(55.0)
18.3(64.9)
23.5(74.3)
28.0(82.4)
32.0(89.6)
32.2(90.0)
27.5(81.5)
20.9(69.6)
12.4(54.3)
5.7(42.3)
18.7(65.7)
Daily mean °C (°F)
−0.4(31.3)
1.5(34.7)
6.0(42.8)
11.0(51.8)
15.9(60.6)
20.1(68.2)
23.4(74.1)
23.3(73.9)
18.5(65.3)
12.7(54.9)
5.5(41.9)
1.4(34.5)
11.6(52.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)
−3.8(25.2)
−2.9(26.8)
0.1(32.2)
4.2(39.6)
8.7(47.7)
12.3(54.1)
14.7(58.5)
14.6(58.3)
10.1(50.2)
5.8(42.4)
0.2(32.4)
−2.0(28.4)
5.2(41.4)
Record low °C (°F)
−25.0(−13.0)
−24.0(−11.2)
−20.5(−4.9)
−8.9(16.0)
−3.0(26.6)
1.6(34.9)
4.3(39.7)
4.6(40.3)
−2.0(28.4)
−6.3(20.7)
−19.4(−2.9)
−18.8(−1.8)
−25.0(−13.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches)
41.6(1.64)
31.7(1.25)
38.1(1.50)
45.2(1.78)
57.8(2.28)
45.5(1.79)
20.4(0.80)
22.9(0.90)
20.0(0.79)
32.5(1.28)
26.3(1.04)
45.9(1.81)
427.9(16.85)
Average precipitation days
10.40
9.27
9.90
11.43
13.40
11.10
4.83
5.00
5.17
7.67
7.13
10.23
105.5
Average snowy days
7.2
4.1
2.4
0.3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.5
3.4
17.9
Average relative humidity (%)
79.6
73.7
65.1
62.2
62.9
59.0
52.4
52.6
56.9
66.2
74.6
80.1
65.4
Mean monthly sunshine hours
64.4
103.1
163.0
196.1
241.9
281.4
327.7
306.6
251.0
189.8
123.1
59.4
2,307.4
Mean daily sunshine hours
2.2
3.8
5.3
6.6
7.8
9.4
10.6
9.9
8.4
6.1
4.1
2.0
6.3
Source 1: Turkish State Meteorological Service,
Source 2: NOAA (humidity, sun 1991-2020), Meteomanz (snowy days 2008-2024)
Notable people
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Ankaralı Namık (1976–2015), the bestselling of folk music artist and Ankara folk culture
Ahmet Çakar (born 1962), the medical doctor, FIFA cockade old football referee and sport TV programme pundit
Mayors Of Çankırı Province
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1977-1980 Necdet İpek MHP
1984-1989 Mustafa Kale ANAP
1989-1994 Raif Oktay DYP
1994-2002 Ahmet Bukan MHP
2002-2004 Namık Kemal Eryılmaz MHP
2004-2018 İrfan Dinç AK Party
2018-2019 Hüseyin Boz AK Party
2019-present İsmail Hakkı Esen MHP
Twin towns – sister cities
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Çankırı does not currently maintain a widely published official list of internationally recognised sister cities.
