Batman, Turkey

Infobox Settlement

settlement_type =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = TUR
timezone=EET
utc_offset=+2
map_caption =Location of PAGENAME within Turkey.
timezone_DST=EEST
utc_offset_DST=+3

official_name = Batman


image_caption = Batman Overview
image_blank_emblem = Batman flag.jpg
blank_emblem_type = Coat of Arms of Batman Municipality
subdivision_type1=Region
subdivision_name1 = Southeastern Anatolia
subdivision_type2=Province
subdivision_name2 = Batman
population_total = 246700
population_footnotes=
population_as_of = 2005
population_footnotes =
population_density_km2 =
area_blank1_title=Province
area_blank1_km2 = 4654
pushpin_

pushpin_label_position =
pushpin_map_caption =Location of Batman, Turkey
pushpin_mapsize =
latd = 37
latm = 53
latNS = N
longd = 41
longm = 07
longEW = E
elevation_m = 550|postal_code_type=Postal code
postal_code = 72x xx
area_code = 0488
blank_info = 72|blank_name=Licence plate
leader_name = Huseyin Kalkan (Democratic Society Party)
website = [http://www.batman-bld.gov.tr/ http://www.batman-bld.gov.tr/]

Batman (short for "Batı Raman Mountains") is the provincial capital of Batman Province, Turkey, also known as Êlih [ [http://www.nefel.com/articles/article_detail.asp?RubricNr=1&ArticleNr=2872 Nefel ] ] or Iluh in Kurdish, is a city on the Batman River in the predominantly Kurdish [Turkey does not register ethnicity in census, and there are thus no verifiable official figures. See Kurdish people.] [ [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/images/dist-kurdish.gifDistribution of Kurdish People] – GlobalSecurity.org] southeast of Turkey.

Government

The mayor of Batman is Hüseyin Kalkan, who is a member of the Democratic Society Party.

Economy

Batman Province is an important oil producing area, and Batman has Turkey's oldest refinery, established in 1955. A convert|494|km|mi|0|abbr=on long pipeline transports crude oil from Batman to İskenderun. The railway track at nearby Kurtalan connects the city with Istanbul. There is also a regional airport near Batman.

History and demographics

Until the 1950s, Batman was a small village. When oil companies moved in and the city's economy started to grow, population figures began to rise. Many Turkish workers and state officials settled in the city. Presently the population of Batman faces a high level of unemployment.

Notes and references

External links

* [http://www.gap.gov.tr/gap_eng.php?sayfa=English/Ggbilgi/batman.html GAP Project page re Batman]