Gümüşhane – East Black Sea Region – Ost Schwarzmeer Region

Position - 38° 45' - 40° 12' Doğu/east/Ost - 39' 45' - 40' 50' Kuzey/North/Nord

10227 km² / Altitude/Höhe: 1,250m/4,100ft,Population/Bevölkerung: ca.186,953

Situation and Characteristics/ Information
Despite its former standing as a summer resort for, the wealthy of Trabzon, Gümüshane is rather a provincial town. Squeezed into the narrow valley of the upper Harsit Çayi,against a backdrop of impressive East Pontus mountain scenery, it has little scope for development. The economically backward and disadvantaged region in which it lies has one of the highest rates of outward migration of any in Turkey.Gümüshane is located in the midst of a very old mining district. Its name means “Silver works”.

History

In the 17th century Gümüshane was sited 4km/2.5mi south of the present town, nearer to the silver  mines. Marco Polo mentions these mines in his "Travels". Lack of firewood for smelting led totheir decline in the early 19th century In 1837 the town consisted of an (upper) Old Town close to the silver mines, and a newer settlement lower down. By 1870 the mines, which had been worked in the time of the Pontic kings as well as of the Roman and Byzantine emperors, were flooded. The deterioration of the Old Town, laid out like an amphitheater, was hastened by the Russian occupation of 1915.

Info for Travel in Region call
+49-171-3131100  Mr.Sefa Tuncer or mail info@alinyayla.com