SOUTHEASTERN

The Southeastern Anatolia Region has a very rich history and cultural heritage, as can be seen in its magnificent historic sites. Its history begins around 7000 B.C. in the New Stone Age. Between 2,000 B.C. and 1,500 B.C. came the Hurris who were followed by the Hittites sometime around 1,200 B.C.

Halil Rahman Mosque, Sanli Urfa

In the land which encircles the Firat (Euphrates) and the Dicle (Tigris) Rivers, lived Abraham, the patriarch claimed by three global religions. Some think that Abraham was born in what is now called Sanli Urfa, supposed to have been Ur of the Chaldees, and later moved south from the city to Harran. In Harran, which was an important Mesopotamian historic and cultural center, the ruins of one of the largest and oldest Islamic universities can be seen among the archeological remains. Restoration of the 18th-century mansion, Kucuk Haci Mustafa Hacikamiloglu Konagi, is now complete. It has reopened as an art gallery.

Natives

When you travel from the south to the north over the Mesopotamian plains, the first high mountain to be seen is the picturesque Mount Nemrut, with the mausoleum of the Commagene King Antiochus at its 2,150 m peak.

Sanli Urfa

The most important areas of the region are Diyarbakir; whose city walls are a superb example of medieval military architecture; Mardin, with its regional architecture; and Gaziantep, a large trade and industrial center which contains the remains of late Hittite cities.

Ataturk Dam (GAP)

The Ataturk Dam Lake is the region's holiday and water sports center. There are many beaches along the shore, which can give you an unforgettable holiday experience under the Mesopotamian sun.