Samandağ

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 = Samandağ


image_caption =
image_blank_emblem =
blank_emblem_type =

---

subdivision_type1=Region
subdivision_name1 = Mediterranean
subdivision_type2=Province
subdivision_name2 = Hatay| population_total = 106754|population_footnotes=
total population| = 106,754
population_urban = 36641|population_footnotes=
population_as_of =| 2000
population_footnotes =
population_density_km2 =
area_total_km2 =
elevation_m = 72|postal_code_type=Postal code
postal_code = 31
blank_info = 31|blank_name=Licence plate
area_code = (0)326
leader_name =
website =
leader_name1 =
gwebsite =

Samandağ, is a town in Hatay Province of southern Turkey, at the mouth of the Orontes River on the Mediterranean coast, near Turkey's border with Syria, convert|25|km|mi|0|abbr=on from the city of Antakya.

Etymology

Samandağ was formerly known as "Samanda", "Yukarı Alevışık", "Levşiye" and "Suwaidiyyah (Süveydiye)" and was officially named Samandağ in 1948.

History

Samandağ lies near the site of the ancient Seleucia Pieria, founded in 300 BC by Seleucus Nicator a general of Alexander the Great, in the Seleucid era that followed Alexander's demise. Seleucia Pieria quickly became a major Mediterranean port of the Hellenistic era, although being slightly inland and therefore safer from pirates, the nearby city of Antioch eventually eclipsed Seleucia. But the port remained and was later used during the Crusades. See Seleucia Pieria for more details of the city in antiquity.

Geography

Samandağ itself is a small town of 35,000 people, close to the city of Antakya. The local economy depends on fishing and agriculture, especially citrus fruits, and Samandağ has the air of a country market town, with young men buzzing through the streets on mopeds. Around the village of Çevlik (derived from Seleucia) there is a long sandy coastline popular with daytrippers from Antakya, although the sea can be stormy and the beach is full of waste. This is an important nesting area of the endangered sea turtles Caretta caretta.

Much of its population are Arabic speaking and adhere to the Alawite sect of Shia Islam, which has many teachings related to Christianity. There are also Christian Arab communities in the district and the village of Vakıflı is Turkey's last remaining rural Armenian community. Politically Samandağ is traditionally left-leaning.

Places of interest

* The tunnel of Vespasian, in the village of "Kapısuyu ", built as a water channel in the 2nd century.
* The tomb of the Muslim saint Hızır.

External links

* [http://www.samandag.gov.tr Governorship of Samandag]
* [http://www.samandag.info/fotograf-albumu/index.php photo album of Samandağ]
* [http://www.livius.org/a/turkey/seleucia/seleucia.html infor on Seleucia Pieria] en icon
* [http://www.hataytempo.com/Samandağ'ın Sesi]