Akçakoca, Turkey

Welcome to Akçakoca, a charming town located in the Düzce Province of Turkey, about 200 km east of Istanbul. Named after a Turkish chieftain who captured the area for the Ottoman Empire in the 14th century, Akçakoca is a town steeped in history and culture. With a population of 27,878 (2022), the town is the regional center of hazelnut cultivation and boasts a range of tourist attractions, including beaches, a small ruined Genoese castle, and a modern mosque of unusual design.

Name
Akçakoca was known as Diapolis or Dia in the classical period. However, after the Turkish conquest, Akçaşehir became more common, before being changed to Akçakoca in 1934.

Population
Although Akçakoca’s estimated population is about 30,000, it increases during the summer months due to tourism activities and cottage owners. Due to war, specifically the one between the Ottomans and Russia in 1877–1878, a wide range of people, most of whom had roots in the Pontic region (Lazes, Georgians, and Abkhazians), emigrated from their native lands to settle in Akçakoca.

History
During the Fourth Crusade, European armies conquered Constantinople in 1204, founding the Latin Empire for a short period. Because of this situation, the Genoese established commercial bases on the Western Black Sea coasts for their interests, which included a Genoese castle in Akçakoca. This castle helped to protect trade routes in the area and was used for commercial activities itself. When the Nicea Empire reconquered Constaninople in 1261, Akçakoca, which was under the auspices of the Nicea Empire, came under Byzantine rule again. Turkic people seem to have been living in Akçakoca since 1243, after Mongol pressure and defeat. From Kastamonu, the Oghuz tribes of Kınık and Üçok migrated westward, some of them came to Akçakoca and settled. The Oghuz Turks then plundered Genoese trade centers and Greek villages, upon which the Genoese and Greeks complained to the Byzantine Emperor, the Byzantine Emperor responded to the complaints and brought and settled Christian Cumans, Pechenegs, Uzes from Romania Dobruja to protect the region against the Turkmens. Oguz from the Kayı tribe settled here. Before the crusades, The Seljuk Sultanate of Rum controlled the region around Akçakoca. There is no evidence that a military action was taken by the Ottomans to conquer Akçakoca from the Byzantines. According to some historians, the Turk population submitted to Ottoman rule without military action. In the late 19th and early 20th century, Akçakoca was part of the Kastamonu Vilayet of the Ottoman Empire. After the foundation of Turkish Republic, it was renamed Akçakoca. The first governor was Ali Zarifi (Okay). Due to the 1999 Düzce and Marmara earthquakes, Düzce had been declared a province by the government, and the town was included in the new province as a district.

Economy
Touristic activities in summer seasons attained an important place in Akçakoca’s economy after the 1950s. The construction of tourism facilities and new transportation improvements further influenced tourism in the late-1970s. Numerous water sports such as sailing, swimming, water skiing, sunbathing, fishing, scuba diving, are performed in Akçakoca. Sailing and diving have become more prominent in the last few years. In 2010, sailing races have been held as part of the 14th Akçakoca Festival. Fishing is a traditional job in Akçakoca. Anchovies, nonita, bluefish, whiting, red mullet, clams, jack mackerel, sea bass, salmon, trout, and turbot are some of the fish that can be found. Akçakoca has one large factory, which produces large pipes for a variety of purposes. It has great importance both Akçakoca and Ereğli. Akçakoca also has only natural gas platform over the Black Sea. There are four platforms which three of them are small and one is big.

Culture
There is a traditional festival every July. During the festival, scheduled buses from neighboring towns and cities, such as Ereğli, Düzce, Zonguldak, Bolu, and Adapazarı carry people to Akçakoca. Some native languages are nearly forgotten, but there are some towns and people who speak Georgian, Laz, and Circassian. Native Turk people of Akçakoca are Manav Turks. Because of the presence of many residents originally from the eastern Black Sea littoral, Horon, played with the Pontic lyra/kemençe are popular here.

Gallery

References

External links
Municipality’s official website (in Turkish)
Pictures of Akçakoca