Our city;it is a bay at the Marmara Sea Our city;it is a bay at the Marmara Sea.It has petroleum refineries and it is the region where petro-chemical industry is set up. Majority of population manages to live working in petroleum and chemical industry factories. Kocaeli is one of the nearest cities to Istanbul,which links Asia to Europe.The city is crowded and rich.Besides,it has a cultural wealth for historical side. The city is developing rapidly.

GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION Surface Area: 3.505 km² Population: 1.206.085 (2000) Province Traffic Code: 41

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND The historians accept the beginning of Kocaeli’s history as B.C XII cc. The first settlings were defined in the region in B.C VIII cc and the oldest settling area in the region is ASTAKOZ which was settled by MEGARANIANS (A Greek Colony) The city of ASTAKOZ Which is known as the centre of Izmit today was once known as NICOMEDIA settled during the kingdom of Bythnia.

Izmit, which was a medium-width city in Greek period became an illuminating and important city and improved instantly in the Roman Period. The city which was conquered by Byzantium Empire because of the Roman Empire drifting apart into two, lost its popularity and became neglected because of the periodical earthquakes. The historians says Izmit had 8 destructive earthquakes throughout the history and settled again and again.

Symbol of Kocaeli: Clock Tower

ESKİHİSAR CASTLE IN GEBZE, KOCAELI

MUSEUMS KOCAELI ARCHEOLOGICAL MUSEUM

ESKIHISAR OSMAN HAMDI BEY MUSEUM

GAYRETTEPE BOAT MUSEUM

HIZIRREIS SUBMARINE MUSEUM

Terratory Sports Hunting, Horse Riding nature walks, Trekking, Climbing, Cycling, Horse Riding

Izmit has an available sea condition for water sports such as Water ski, Parasailing Fishing, swimming, windsurfing. It has also has an Olympic Skating Hall which hosts skating contests.

SEA VIEWS FROM KOCAELI

MASUKIYE (A LOVELY TOWN IN KOCAELI)

Masukiye is famous for its trout fish Masukiye is famous for its trout fish. Trout fish is fed in small powns there and served in trout restaurants.

SAPANCA is one of the tourstic destination in Kocaeli which has a lake SAPANCA is one of the tourstic destination in Kocaeli which has a lake. Especially at the weekends the people visit there for brunch, picnic and sports activities.

LOVELY VIEWS FROM SAPANCA

TRADITIONAL DESSERT OF KOCAELI: PISMANIYE:a cottonlike dessert made of flour,sugar and butter.

HOW IS IT MADE?

KOCAELI METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITY ARANGES PISMANIYE FESTIVAL EVERY YEAR

During the Pısmaniye festival, the cookers made the longest pismaniye and broke the Guinnes Record.

Kocaeli Metrpolitan Municipality planted lots of tulips all over the city and arranges tulip festivals every year and In this festival, the most beautiful tulip is chosen which the people planted. During these festival, lots of activities and concerts are held.

A Skyview from the festival

The most beautiful Tulip of 2010

Our mayor and the winner

Kocaeli is also famous for its winter sports and has a famous skiing area called KARTEPE.

KOCAELI FAIRGROUND always opens in June and is open till September KOCAELI FAIRGROUND always opens in June and is open till September. There are many enjoyable and cultural activities there for the inhabitants of Kocaeli

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