Darboğaz

The title of this article contains the character ğ. Where it is unavailable or not desired, the name may be represented as Darbogaz.

Darboğaz
—  Town  —
Darboğaz Location in Turkey
Coordinates: 37°28′N 34°34′E / 37.467°N 34.567°E / 37.467; 34.567Coordinates: 37°28′N 34°34′E / 37.467°N 34.567°E / 37.467; 34.567
Country	Turkey
Province	Niğde Province
District	Ulukışla
Government
– Body	Darboğaz Municipality
– Mayor
Elevation	1,460 m (4,790 ft)
Population (2010)
– Total	2,010
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
– Summer (DST)	EEST (UTC+3)
Area code(s)	0388

Darboğaz is a town in Niğde Province, Turkey.

Geography

Darbağaz is a part of Ulukışla district of Niğde Province. It is a mountain town with an average altitude of 1,460 metres (4,790 ft). The coordinates are 37°28′N 34°34′E / 37.467°N 34.567°E / 37.467; 34.567. The highway distance to Ulukışla is 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) and to Niğde is 60 kilometres (37 mi). The population is 2010 as of ^[1] 2010

History

There are no written sources of the deep history of the town. But probably the vicinity was inhabited during Byzantine Empire era. The earliest settlers of the town were the members of a Turkmen tribe in the 17th century. According to legend, the tribe leader was playing tar, a musical instrument and the earliest name of the settlement was tarbaz or tar player. (The legend, if true, may show an Azerbaijani origin of the tribe.) That name may be the source of the modern name which also means narrow pass. Darboğaz was decleared township in 1968.

Economy

The main economic activity is agriculture, especially cherry horticulture. The annual cherry production exceeds 1,500 tonnes (1,500 long tons; 1,700 short tons). Beekeeping and carpet weaving are other economic activities.^[2] Being a mountain town the potential for winter tourism is also promising.

References

1. ^ Statistical Institute page
2. ^ Town page (Turkish)