Hello.
Today, in the 17th episode of our Central Black Sea series, we are in the Ayancık district of Sinop, Turkey's Sea of ​​Trees.
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Ayancık is a district 54 km away from Sinop, with a population of 24 thousand and an area of ​​876 square kilometers.
Ayancık, located in the Western Black Sea geographical region; It is surrounded by the Black Sea in the north, Boyabat and Kastamonu Taşköprü districts in the south, Türkeli in the west and Erfelek in the east.
The town center was established between "Maltepe" and "Ayantepe" at an altitude of 202 meters and the sea, in the Ayancık Stream Valley, where the stream flows into the sea, facing the open sea. It is a port city and is prone to storms as the port faces the open sea.
Fishing has also developed with the construction of artificial ports. Although the landforms and land structure are not suitable for agriculture, agriculture has an important place in the economy of the district. The linen industry has also made significant progress in recent years.
Ayancık Church is a historical center in the district. Located a few kilometers outside of the district, Akgöl is one of the most important beauties of the district.
The first tribes living in and around Ayancık are Paphlogonians, Amazons, Achaeans and Dorians. In the first age, Paphlogonia was the place between Bithynia, Pontusia and Galatia in the Western Black Sea region. The Paphlogonians are the first known indigenous people of this region. They lived under the protection of Etiler until 1200 BC.
Ayancık and its environs came under the rule of Danişmentoğulları for the first time at the end of the 11th century. The region passed into the hands of the Anatolian Seljuks in 1204, the Pervaneoğulları Principality in 1259, and the Candaroğlulları Principality in 1922. In 1460, while Fatih Sultan Mehmet went to Trabzon, he connected Sinop and its surroundings to the Ottoman State.
Istefan, which gave the district its old name, is today's Çaylıoğlu village. Until the Tanzimat Era, Ayancık and its environs remained under the administration of one of the four judges of Kastamonu. During the reform movements that started with the Tanzimat and continued later, it was thought to establish a district administration in and around Ayancık, and Ayandon was accepted as the district center. While Ayancık was affiliated to Kastamonu Province until the proclamation of the Republic, it became a District of Sinop Province in the administrative arrangement made after the proclamation of the Republic.
The start of operation of the German and Belgian-owned sawmill in 1929 was a turning point in the economy and social life of the region. Ayancık has shown continuous improvement after this date. During the periods when the sawmill belonging to Zingal Company was in operation, cable car for connection with the forest in the district; The railway line connecting the forest, factory and port was built. However, in the 90s, it completely disappeared with the road that was overhauled during the infrastructure works of today's Hakan Ünsal Street.
Factory Dungeon and Çangal forests were given to Türkiye Kibrit Tekeli Türk Anonim Şirketi with a 50-year contract signed on February 10, 1926 by the Ministry of Agriculture. This contract was later transferred to Zingal Türk Anonim Şirketi. After this transfer process, Ayacık Lumber Factory was established by Belgian businessman Mr. Filipar.
The name Zingal consists of the first syllable of the Dungeon forests and the last syllable of the Changal forests. It was one of the largest sawmills in Europe at the time it was founded.
The factory's closure process began with the fact that it did not comply with the contract dated February 10, 1926, and used the forests excessively, neglected the afforestation works instead of the cut forests, and was operated in three shifts a day to produce 3-4 times the normal production. This reckless cut by the company has damaged the forests of Ayancık and started to reduce it.
Forests form the natural vegetation of the region. The vegetation is very rich and dense and differs according to the altitude zones. In the coastal part, broad-leaved forest texture, maquis and heaths and cultivated plants are common. As it rises from the coast, coniferous tree and plant species gain density.
There are pine, fir, oak, hornbeam, beech, ash, elm, linden, plane tree, chestnut, poplar and various maquis and shrub species in the forests. Especially Çangal Forests in the south of the district are very rich in terms of biology. It is possible to see every shade of green in these forests. That's why it's called the "sea of ​​trees".
The typical Black Sea climate is dominant in the Ayancık region. Winters are cool and rainy, summers are dry and humid.
The literacy rate of the district is 99%. There is Ayancık Vocational School affiliated to Sinop University in the district.
That's it from Sinop Ayancık.
In the next episode, we will be in Sinop's Türkeli district.