Ardahan, which was previously the town of the province of Kars,
101 kilometers northeast, is a new province (in 1992) of Turkey in the Eastern
Anatolian Region.
It stands on a high mountain plateau and 70% of the population lives on the
countryside, so agriculture is the main economy in Ardahan.
Carpet and Kilim weaving holds an important
place amongst young girls here. There are many small rivers and lakes around the
city; Cildir lake for instance is the second biggest in the whole
region, at an altitude of 1,959 meters above the
sea level.
Standing on flatland, this small city is a lovely spot with beautiful natural surroundings, and it has been the home of many civilizations dating far back to antiquity. The oldest written document from its past is a stone inscription from Urartu's nearby Cildir lake. We also know that Cimmerians settled in this area as well around 8th century BC. In 1069 AD the town was captured by the Seljuk sultan Alparslan, than in 1551 by the Ottomans.
It is possible to find reminders of Ardahan's past everywhere over the
land, the most important monumental figure being the ancient fortress is Ardahan
Fortress which was built by the Seljuk and used by the
Ottomans later on. Other important castles in Ardahan
province are; Kazan, Altas, Kinzi, Kalecik, SeytanKurt, Sevimli, Cak, Savasir,
Mere, Kol, Kirnak, Ölçev, Dedesen, Karakale, Kislahanak, and Hanak.
Ugurludag in Yalnizcam village, 12 kilometers to the center, has a small skiing track built recently, where one can ski for approximately 6 months thanks to its climate.
Many festivals are organized in the
city, such as; Honey festival, Yellow Cheese festival, Cildir Lake festival, and
so on.
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