The Southeastern Anatolia
Representing only 9.7% of the total area of Turkey, the Southeastern region is the smallest region of the country with its 75.000 square kilometers of land.
The Southeastern region has nine provinces, which are, Adiyaman, Batman, Diyarbakir, Gaziantep, Kilis, Mardin, Sanliurfa, Siirt, Sirnak.
Among the most important agricultural productions, vegetable products, grains such as wheat, barley and lentils, cotton,a valuable type of tobacco called “the Oriental Type” olives and pistachio nuts can be counted. Petroleum is the most important underground resource in the region.
Earliest settlements date back to the Paleolithic age in the region. In the same area remains from different periods and civilisations can be seen; Hurris, Hittites, Assyrians, Persians, Romans, Byzantines, Seljuk Turks and Ottomans.
Zeugma, famous for its floor mosaics, was an important Roman city which is located 10 km from Nizip in Gaziantep province today is worth to see. Known as the second longest city walls after the Great Wall of China, Diyarbakir City Walls were first constructed by the Roman Emperor Constantius.
Hasankeyf which was the capital of the Artukogullari in the twelfth century, is the most important historical center near Batman with its beautiful structures such as the citadel, the remains of a large bridge over the Tigris River, the Grand Mosque and the Zeynel Bey Tomb. are important historical assets in the county. The largest arched bridge of Turkey, the Middle East and the Balkans is the Malabadi Bridge, remaining from the twelfth century, and located over Batman Stream.
Sanliurfa, one of the most sacred cities in Turkey is the city where the Prophet Abraham, the father of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, was born.
Mardin province in this region is located on the rail and highway routes connecting Turkey to Syria and Iraq. The city witnessed various civilizations in history such as; Hurri-Mitani, Hittites, Surs, Babylonians, Persians, Romans, Arabs, Artuklus and the Seljuk Turks.
Other must sees of the region are, Nemrut Mountain (90km South-east of Adiyaman province), Commagene, Hasankeyf , Gobeklitepe and the Deyrulzaferan Monastery.
