Aybastı

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

official_name = Aybastı

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image_caption = A panoramic view
image_blank_emblem =
blank_emblem_type =

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subdivision_type1=Region
subdivision_name1 = Black Sea
subdivision_type2=Province
subdivision_name2 = Ordu| population_total = 31071|population_footnotes=
population_as_of =| 2003
population_footnotes =
population_density_km2 = 90|area_total_km2 = 359|elevation_m = 664|latd = 40
latm = 41
latNS = N
longd = 37
longm = 24
longEW = E
postal_code_type=Postal code
postal_code = 52
area_code = 0452
blank_info = 52|blank_name=Licence plate
leader_name =
website = http://www.aybasti.gov.tr/

Aybastı is a town and a district of Ordu Province in the Black Sea region of Turkey.

Etymology

The town was formerly known as "Ibasdi" (variants include "Ibasda" and "Ibassa") and mutated to Aybastı in the 20th century.

Geography

Aybastı is a rural, agricultural district in the foothills of the Canik Mountains above the Black Sea coast, 54km inland from the coastal town of Fatsa. The climate and flora are typical of the central Black Sea region although the district is drier at high altitudes. This is good agricultural land with convert|192|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on of meadow and convert|116|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on of farmland. The road up here from the coast is slow and winding, the journey takes over an hour, and journey from here up into the mountains is even worse, some of it on dirt roads. The people of these country villages are very traditional, for example they marry between the ages of 15 and 22 by arrangement between the families.

Aybastı itself is a small town providing high schools, a hospital and other basic amenities to the surrounding area. Market day is Saturday. The town is growing and today most buildings are four stories or more, the local economy is boosted by money coming from families that since the 1960s have been living and working in Istanbul, Ankara or abroad (especially France and Austria).

Places of interest

* Perşembe Yaylası - high meadow, one of the biggest tourist attractions in the area, 17km from the town of Aybastı. Under snow in winter but popular with walkers and trekkers in summer, when there are folklore festivals and country fairs in the 3rd week of July. Persembe Plato has one of the best example of meander in Turkey even its picture is alredy taken place at Geography textbooks.

External links

* [http://www.aybasti.gov.tr/ the district governor's website]
* [http://www.aybastibld.com/ Aybastı municipality]
** [http://www.aybastibld.com/resimler/ photographs]
* [http://www.aybasti.org/index1.html local info website] (follow "resimler" for more photos)
* [http://www.karamanlim.com/ and another one]