Photo: Tiera (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Source Tödürge Lake
The largest lake in Sivas province. Its very salty, chalky waters hold silver fish and yayın fish.
View on map7 places to visit in the Zara district of Sivas: Tödürge Lake, Kızılırmak Valley and Zara Castle. Plan your trip to Zara with local food, practical tips and transport information.
Zara is a district of Sivas province. It has an area of 2,616 km², an altitude of 1,354 m and a population of 21,340. The district’s former name was Koçgiri.
History
The Battle of Kösedağ, which confirmed the defeat of the Anatolian Seljuks by the Mongols, took place at Zara in 1243. According to recent research, the district and its surroundings were first settled in the Neolithic period. Excavations at the mound between Zara and Hafik uncovered small flint points and hand-mill stones with Neolithic features. In the 16th century, during the Ottoman period, Zara was a large village with 261 households and 86 bachelors (mücerred) registered. Assuming five people lived in each household, the settlement is estimated to have had around 1,391 inhabitants. In 1844 the settlement had 201 Muslim households and 153 Armenian households, with a population of around 1,800. According to the 1890 provincial yearbook, Zara had 1 government office building, 2 mosques (the Zaralızâde Mehmed Paşa and Hacı Hasan mosques), 1 church, 1 hammam and 2 madrasas.
Culture
The district has a cultural character similar to Sivas, while its northern areas are close to Black Sea culture. In folk dance, halays and horons are widespread in the district, and in some villages the kemençe (bowed lute) is still played.
Rivers and Lakes
The Kızılırmak, the longest river lying entirely within Türkiye’s borders, rises in neighbouring İmranlı district and cuts through Zara from east to west. The Yeşilırmak, one of Türkiye’s longest rivers, also rises on the slopes of Kösedağ within Zara’s borders. Tödürge Lake, towards Sivas, is the largest lake in Sivas province; its very salty, chalky waters hold silver fish and yayın fish.
Mountains and Plateaus
On the Suşehri side, Kösedağ is the highest mountain, at 2,815 metres. Other high peaks are Beydağ (2,802 m) and Yılanlı (2,200 m).
History and Culture
The Battle of Kösedağ, the 1243 battle that confirmed the defeat of the Anatolian Seljuks by the Mongols, took place at Zara. Zara is the district formerly known as Koçgiri. According to the 1890 provincial yearbook, Zara had a government office building, mosques, a church, a hammam and inns. Halays and horons are the popular folk dances of Zara.
Highlights
In 1243 the Battle of Kösedağ, which confirmed the Mongol defeat of the Anatolian Seljuks, took place in Zara. Zara is famous for beekeeping and holds an annual honey and culture festival in August under the title “Capital of Honey”.
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