Kartal (Turkish: [ˈkaɾtaɫ]) is a municipality and district of Istanbul Province, Turkey.[2] Its area is 38 km2,[3] and its population is 483,418 (2022).[1] It is located on the Asian side of the city, on the coast of the Marmara Sea between Maltepe and Pendik.

Kartal
Map showing Kartal District in Istanbul Province
Map showing Kartal District in Istanbul Province
Kartal is located in Turkey
Kartal
Kartal
Location in Turkey
Kartal is located in Istanbul
Kartal
Kartal
Kartal (Istanbul)
Coordinates: 40°53′14″N 29°11′24″E / 40.88722°N 29.19000°E / 40.88722; 29.19000
CountryTurkey
ProvinceIstanbul
Government
 • MayorGökhan Yüksel (CHP)
Area
38 km2 (15 sq mi)
Population
 (2022)[1]
483,418
 • Density13,000/km2 (33,000/sq mi)
Time zoneTRT (UTC+3)
Area code0216
Websitewww.kartal.bel.tr

Despite being far from the city centre, Kartal is heavily populated (total population nearly 500,000). The district's neighbours are Maltepe to the west, Sultanbeyli and Sancaktepe to the north and Pendik to the east. Inland from the coast, the land rises sharply up to the hills Yakacık and Aydos, the latter of which is the highest point in Istanbul.[4]

History edit

Kartal ('eagle' in Turkish, by folk etymology) was a fishing village on the shore of the Marmara Sea during the Byzantine Empire, called Kartalimen or Kartalimin in Greek, and was founded at the beginning of the 6th century. In the 11th century, the town was conquered by the ruler of the Seljuks, Suleyman Shah. In 1329, Kartal became part of the Ottoman Empire, the Byzantines re-took the city in 1403, however, and held it for 17 years before losing it to the Ottomans again.[5][6]

According to the Ottoman General Census of 1881/82-1893, the kaza of Kartal had a total population of 12,969, consisting of 6,920 Greeks, 5,095 Muslims, 869 Armenians, 3 Catholics, 1 Jew and 81 foreign citizens.[7]

By 1947, Kartal was an industrial area and with the introduction of commuter trains to Haydarpaşa Terminal from Gebze in 1973, Kartal became even more important as an industrial area of Istanbul. However, the current trend is that factories are being closed down and moved inland. For example, the large cement factory on the shore, which is to be converted into a cultural center, was closed in 2003.[8]

There is a historical Roman bath ruin near Dragos Hill, which is being recovered by the Istanbul Archaeology Museums, with the financial support of Kartal Municipality.[9][10]

Kartal today edit

Luxury apartment complexes have been built on the coast, along with much more housing inland and this has attracted more shops and infrastructure.

Housing is of good-quality in general.[citation needed] Building near the coast slowed after the 1999 earthquake, when people became aware that a major fault line runs just off this coast. However, building on the high ground inland is proceeding apace.

On 4 June 2007, the Greater Istanbul Municipality and the former mayor of Kartal announced that a new urban city environment would be built in Kartal-Pendik. The plan includes a central business district, luxury residential developments, cultural facilities such as concert halls, museums, and theatres, and leisure locations including a marina and tourist hotels.[11]

Kartal is the terminal station of Kadıköy - Sabiha Gökçen Airport metro line. The Marmaray for commuter trains also passes through Kartal.

Geography edit

The coast of Kartal has sandy and clay soils, whereas the northern part of the district is mostly silica. On Yakacık Hill, there are limestone and quartz deposits.

The streams of Paşaköy, Kavaklıdere and Fındıklı feed the reservoir behind the Ömerli Dam.

Composition edit

There are 20 neighbourhoods in Kartal District:[12]

  • Atalar
  • Çavuşoğlu
  • Cevizli
  • Cumhuriyet
  • Esentepe
  • Gümüşpınar
  • Hürriyet
  • Karlıktepe
  • Kordonboyu
  • Orhantepe
  • Orta
  • Petrol Iş
  • Soğanlık Yeni
  • Topselvi
  • Uğur Mumcu
  • Yakacık Çarşı
  • Yakacık Yeni
  • Yalı
  • Yukarı
  • Yunus

Religion edit

The majority religion of today's Kartal is Islam. Kartal Cemevi is one of the several Alevi temples in Istanbul. Kartal Surp Nişan Armenian Orthodox Church (Holy Cross Armenian Church) is an Armenian Church[13] located on the downtown of Kartal. Muhammad Maarifi Mosque which is also in Kartal features the mausoleum of the founder of the Maarifi Islamic order. There are seventy mosques within the district.[14]

Transport edit

Metro
Train Line[15]
Ferryboats

Recreation edit

A part of the Kartal Park was developed in July 2018 as a "mist" park" featuring articial mist, colorful light effects and classical music attracting local residents and mainly children during hot summer days.[17]

Sister towns edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Address-based population registration system (ADNKS) results dated 31 December 2022, Favorite Reports" (XLS). TÜİK. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  2. ^ Büyükşehir İlçe Belediyesi, Turkey Civil Administration Departments Inventory. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  3. ^ "İl ve İlçe Yüz ölçümleri". General Directorate of Mapping. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  4. ^ What is the highest point of Istanbul? Kartal 24
  5. ^ "Kartal İlçe Tarihi" (in Turkish). Kartal Kaymakamlığı. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
  6. ^ "History of Kartal". Kartal Municipality. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
  7. ^ Kemal Karpat (1985), Ottoman Population, 1830-1914, Demographic and Social Characteristics, The University of Wisconsin Press, p. 138-139
  8. ^ "Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi Genel Kurul Tutanağı 20. Dönem 3. Yasama Yılı 115. Birleşim" (in Turkish). TCBMM. 3 July 1998. Retrieved 13 September 2012.
  9. ^ "Kartal Belediyesi 2010 Faaliyet Raporu" (PDF). Kartal Municipality. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  10. ^ "Tarihi eserler günışığına çıkıyor". CNN Türk. Archived from the original on 21 January 2013. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  11. ^ Zaha Hadid Architects Kartal - Pendik Masterplan Archived 13 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine.
  12. ^ Mahalle, Turkey Civil Administration Departments Inventory. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  13. ^ T.C. Başbakanlık Vakıflar Genel Müdürlüğü Archived 24 July 2012 at the Wayback Machine.
  14. ^ Kartal Municipality Official Site - Worship.
  15. ^ "Marmararay - ASRIN PROJESİ MARMARAY".
  16. ^ "2012 Yaz Tarifesi" (in Turkish). Prenstur. Archived from the original on 7 September 2013. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
  17. ^ "İstanbul'da çocuklara 'Sis Parkı' eğlencesi". Anadolu Agency (in Turkish). 20 July 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2018.

External links edit