Güneysu

Infobox Settlement

settlement_type = Town
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 = Güneysu


image_caption =
image_blank_emblem =
blank_emblem_type =

---

subdivision_type1=Region
subdivision_name1 = Black Sea
subdivision_type2=Province
subdivision_name2 = Rize| population_total = 17320|population_footnotes=
population_as_of =| 2000
population_density_km2 =
area_total_km2 = 107|elevation_m = 152- 2000|elevation_ft=500-6560
latd = 40
latm = 39
latNS = N
longd = 40
longm = 55
longEW = E
postal_code_type=Postal code
postal_code = 53
area_code = (0090)+ 464
leader_name =
blank_info = 53|blank_name=Licence plate
website =

Güneysu is a town and district of Rize Province in the Black Sea region of Turkey, inland from the city of Rize.

Etymology

Güneysu was formerly named in Greek "Potomya" and the name persists in local usage to this day, as Güneysu stands on a plain watered by the Potomya River, a tributary of the Taşlıdere.

Geography

This is a hilly district of rivers and valleys, inland from the Black Sea coast, with peaks inland as high as 2000 m. The climate is wet, hence the number of valleys that have been cut though by mountain streams, so floods and landslides are a constant threat even today. The coastal vegetation is broad-leaved but the higher land is pine forest, with Alpine plants in the high meadows up in the Kaçkar Mountains.

Güneysu is an impoverished rural district losing much of its population as they migrate to jobs elsewhere (some of Turkey's biggest construction firms have their roots here for example). The main source of income is growing tea and in recent years kiwi fruit. Other crops are mainly grown in family gardens for personal use. The only industry is tea processing, and Güneysu is a centre of this for the Rize province.

Notable natives

The Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is from a Güneysu family, spent part of his childhood here, and still regularly visits the district.

External links

* [http://www.guneysu.gov.tr/ District governor's official website] tr icon