Çardak

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 = Çardak

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image_caption = 12th century Hanabad Caravanserai in Çardak
image_blank_emblem =
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subdivision_type1=Region
subdivision_name1 = Aegean
subdivision_type2=Province
subdivision_name2 = Denizli| population_total = 11253|population_footnotes=
total population| = 11,253
population_urban = 5649|population_footnotes=
population_as_of =| 2000
population_footnotes = [http://www.cardak.gov.tr]
population_density_km2 =
area_total_km2 =
elevation_m =
latd =
latm =
latNS =
longd =
longm =
longEW =
postal_code_type=Postal code
postal_code = 20x xx
blank_info = 20|blank_name=Licence plate
area_code =
leader_name =
website = [http://www.cardak.bel.tr www.cardak.bel.tr]
leader_name1 =
gwebsite = [http://www.cardak.gov.tr www.cardak.gov.tr]

Çardak is a town and a district of Denizli Province of Turkey. It is situated on the road from Denizli to Ankara near the banks of the Lake Acıgöl.

Denizli's airport (Çardak Airport) is in Çardak.

A very notable sight in the town is the caravanserai of Hanabad, built in the 13th century by the local ruler Esedüddin Ayaz during the reign of Seljuk sultan Alaeddin Keykubad I. It bears typical characteristics of Seljuk caravanserais and on its stones are carved fish, cow and human relics.

A small village until the early years of the Turkish Republic, Çardak started growing as of 1958 when it was made into a district. Streets and buildings are well arranged and it is a tidy little town. The economy centers around agriculture as well as surface mining of sodium sulfate reserves in Lake Acıgöl whose name means, literally and appropriately, "the bitter lake". Services rendered to the airport are also taking an increasingly important share in the town's economy. Hanabad Caravanserai is presently in phase of being restored.

ee also

* Çardak Airport
* Lake Acıgöl