Happy TravellerWelcome to Hopa, a picturesque town located in the Artvin Province of northeast Turkey. Home to a population of 23,846, Hopa is situated on the eastern Turkish Black Sea coast, just 67 km (42 mi) from the city of Artvin and 18 km (11 mi) from the border with Georgia. Hopa is known for its stunning natural beauty, fertile hillsides, and rich cultural heritage.
Geographically, Hopa is located on the Black Sea Coast, 65 km (40 mi) from Artvin and 18 km (11 mi) from the Sarp border crossing into Sarpi, Georgia. The land rises sharply from 10m above sea level in the coastal areas up into the Sultan Selim Mountains. The hillsides are well-watered and green with alder, chestnuts, hornbeams, and other deciduous trees. The highest point is Mt Yavuz Sultan Selim at 1513m. The climate is mild and wet, with only July and August being warm enough to be called summer. There is annual snowfall in winter. The town consists of seven quarters: Bucak, Merkez Kuledibi, Ortahopa, Sundura, Yukarı Kuledibi, Cumhuriyet, and Sugören.
Hopa has a rich history, dating back to the kingdom of Colchis, but was always vulnerable to invasions. It was first invaded by the Scythians from across the Caucasus, then by the Muslim armies led by Habib, son of Caliph Uthman who controlled the area from 853 AD to 1023 when it was conquered by the Byzantines from the Sac Emirate allied to the Abbasids. The Seljuk Turks led by Alp Arslan conquered the area in 1064. With the collapse of the Seljuks, the Artvin area came under the control of the Ildeniz, one of the Anatolian Turkish beyliks. Ottoman Sultan Selim I brought it into the Ottoman Empire during his campaign against the Crimea that took place in 1490–1512. Lala Mustafa Pasha made it part of the Childir Eyalet formed in 1578. The area was captured by Russia following the Russo-Turkish War (1877-1878) and many people of Hopa moved westwards away from the Russian-controlled zone. Hopa was returned as part of the Treaty of Brest Litovsk in 1918 and formally joined Turkey on 14 March 1921. The Sarp border gate was opened on 31 August 1988 with the International Road Transport Agreement between the Soviet Union and Turkey which gave a big boost to Hopa in trade and tourism.
The economy of Hopa is based on trade, fishing, and agriculture, mostly tea, nuts (especially hazelnuts), and kiwifruit. There are two tea factories, the Black Sea Copper Works, a Thermal Power Plant, the Hopa port, and the Hopa Vocational School. The Hopa Port is managed by a privately-owned company Hopa Limani and is active in international trade. There is currently a high rate of cancer in Hopa, attributed to fall-out from the Chernobyl disaster, across the Black Sea from here. Between 2001 and 2004, cancer cases sharply increased in the Black Sea region, especially in Hopa, with 47.9% of all deaths during this time being due to cancer.
In terms of climate, Hopa has a humid subtropical climate characterized by equable climates with few extremes of temperature and ample precipitation in all months. The area is also home to the Selimiye Tunnel, a popular tourist attraction.
Come discover the beauty and charm of Hopa for yourself. With its rich history, stunning landscapes, and warm hospitality, it’s a destination you won’t want to miss!
