EleÅŸkirt

Template: Infobox city in Turkey / Maintenance / County

Eleşkirt (Kurdish: zetka ) is a town and a district in the Turkish province of Ağrı.

Etymology

The name Eleşkirt is the Turkicised version of the Armenian Alaşkert (Armenian Ալաշկերտ ), indicating the level. In the Middle Ages the city as Vaghaşkert (Armenian Վաղաշկերտ ) was known. This name was demonstrated in the 4th century BC. In the Kurdish language is the name zetka / Zêtkan.

History

Urartu and antiquity

The city Eleşkirt has a long history. In the Iron Age, there were the Urartian. The villages Pirabat and Toprakkale are foundations of the ancient Urartian. The Urartian king Menua erected a stele in Yazılıtaş ( HChI No. 23), which tells of his victory over Diauehe. After the Urartian lost control of this territory, it conquered the Medes. The Medes were followed by the Persians, Macedonians, Romans and Byzantines.

Middle Ages

In the Middle Ages Eleşkirt part of several Turkish and Mongolian empires and principalities. Among them are the Ilkhanate, the Timurids, the Aq Qoyunlu, the Qara Qoyunlu, the Safavids, the Saltukiden that Ahlatschahs and the Ottomans.

Population

The population is largely of a small number of Kurds and Turks.

Structure

In the district Eleşkirt lie outside the city Eleşkirt three other small towns ( Belde ) Tahir, Yayladüzü and Yücekapı. In addition, 61 villages are located in the county.

Geography

The county is in the northwest of the province and borders the provinces of Kars and Erzurum. There are several mountains that are high in the 3000 m. The highest mountain is the Köse Dağ with 3433 m in the north of the county. Also shown is the Mirgemir mountains with the peaks Tekir and Mizrak.

Attractions

• Waterfall of Eleşkirt ( Esentepe Waterfall )