A world without borders

                      by

                Safiye AYGÜN

Turkish National Anthem

Mehmet Akif Ersoy was born in  1873 in Istanbul , Turkey. He was the son of Ipekli Tahir Efendi, an Albanian teacher at Fatih Madrasah. His mother came from a family that  had migrated from Buhara and settled in İstanbul. As a young man  graduated from Halkal Vetinary School. He first poems were published in the school magazine in 1895. During the collapse of the Ottoman Empire ,  Mehmet Akif Ersoy was a fervent patriot. He made important   contributions to the struggle fort he declaration of the Turkish Republic , and advocated patriotism though speeches that he delivered in many mosques Anatolia.

Mehmet Akif Ersoy earned himself  his significant place in the history of the  Republic of Turkey as the composer of the lyrics of the Turkish National Anthem. During the session of March 12, 1921, The Turkish Grand National  Assembly officialy designated his ten-quatrain poem as the  lyrics of the national anthem.

During the republican period , Mehmet Akif Ersoy taught history and literature at various universities.

From 1925 to 1935 he worked as a proffessor of Turkish language and literatüre at the Universty  of Egypt.

He died on the 27th of December  1936.

Osman Zeki Üngör is the composer of the Turkish National Anthem.

Geographical Location

Mersin lies between latitudes 36° and 37° N, and longitudes 33° and 35° E. Mersin covers an area of 15.853 square kilometers. Mersin’s land border is 608 km and sea border is 321 km. Its area comprises of % 87 mountain side and % 54 forested area.

According to Address-Based Population Registration System 2014, the population of Mersin is 1.727.255. Mersin is located in the east of Adana, in the south of Mediterranean, in the north of Niğde, Konya and Karaman.

The most important streams of Mersin are Göksu and Berdan small stream quite high, rugged and rocky Western and Central Taurus Mountains consists the big part of Mersin.

Mersin lies among the East Mediterranean towards South West by covering the uplands which can reach up to Northern Taurus Mountains.

The most of the lowlands in and around Mersin diagenesis carried by streams. These lowlands are very fertile in terms of agriculture and they lies parallel to mountains as a line.

Bolkar Mountains are part of Taurus Mountains which are located in Mersin borders. The Medetsiz Hill is the highest part of Bolkars with the height of 3524 meters. Mersin is connected with Central Anatolia from northeast by Gulek Pass (1050 m) and from northwest by Sertavul Pass (1610 m) Mersin’s plant cover is Maquis which is specific to the regions, dominated by the Mediterranean climate.

Mersin is an important city in terms of Tourism with it is 13 districts as follows: Akdeniz, Anamur, Aydıncık, Bozyazı, Çamlıyayla, Gülnar, Erdemli, Mezitli, Mut, Silifke, Tarsus, Toroslar and Yenişehir… Mersin International Music Festival was established in 2001 and takes place …

https://youtu.be/nvfUfR0CfcU

Information About Mersin

Mersin is an important port and tourism city with its 321 km long shore line on East Mediterranean. It is a fast growing city with its population of 1 million 722 thousand and 255, alongside its modern port, free zone, Commerce and Industrial Associations.

TOURISM

Mersin does not only offer 321 km long sea shore with its unique natural beauties and sea, sand and sun trio but also offers variety of tourism such as; culture, faith, congress, uphill, tracking, rafting, paragliding and mountain climbing.

Approximately 108 km of Mersin shores are natural sandy beach. Some of its important beaches are; Taşucu, Susanoğlu, Kız Kalesi, Kuruçay, Lamas, Yemişkumu, Çeşmeli, Ören, Kumkuyu, Akkum, Kapızlı, Balıkova, İskele, Kulakköy, Yenikaş, Ovacık, Büyük Eceli and Anamur. There are total of 11 beaches with blue flag in Mersin.

Mersin is an open air museum with numerous of ruin sites and still standing monuments especially with 9 thousand years old Yumuktepe. Mersin is a home to many historical and touristic places such as Alahan Monastery in Mut, Kanlidivane in Erdemli, Mamure Castle in Anamurium, Anamurium Ruin Site and many other. Saint Mikdat Mousque and Tomb in city center, Eshab-i Kehf (7 sleepers) in Tarsus, Saint Paul Church and Well, Makam-i Serif Mosque, Tomb of Prophet Daniel, Tarsus Ulu Mosque which contains the tombs of Saint Sit, Lokman Hekim and Khalifa Me’mun, Eski (Old) Mosque, Location of Bilal-i Habesi and Mosque, Hagi Thekla in Silifke which is known as ‘Meryemlik’ and Olba Ancient City which is known as ‘Uzuncaburc’ and Silifke Castle.

Ataturk House and Museum, Mersin State art and sculpture museum and gallery, Mustafa Erim Mersin Museum of City history, Mersin Naval Museum, Tarsus Saint Paul Monument Museum, Silifke Ataturk House and Ethnography Museum and Tasucu Amphora Museum is located in Mersin.

There are 391 Archaeological Site, 5 Historical Site, 29 Natural Protected Area and 2 Urban Site in Mersin.

Some of the historical and cultural values of Mersin:

• Yumuktepe Mound, Gözne and Çandır Castles (Toroslar)
• Viranşehir – Soli Pompeiopolis Antique City (Mezitli)
• Karaduvar Zefiryum Antique City Ruins, Tırmıl Mound and Güdübez Castle (Akdeniz)
• Prophet Daniel’s Tomb (Tarsus)
• Cave of Seven Sleepers (The Companions of Cave) (Tarsus)
• St. Paul Museum and Well (Tarsus)
• Taşkuyu Cave (Tarsus)
• Gözlükule Mound (Tarsus)
• Namrun Castle, Papazın Bahçesi (Garden of Pastor) and Canyons (Çamlıyayla)
• Aya Thekla Church (Silifke)
• Silifke Castle and Tekirambarı (tabby storehouse), Göksu Stone Bridge (Silifke)
• Zeus Temple and Church (Silifke)
• Cennet Cehennem (heaven and hell) and Astım Cave (Silifke)
• Uzuncaburç, Olba, Mezgit Castle, Demircili Archaeological Sites (Silifke)
• Ayaş Amphitheater and Castle, Çatıören, İmirzeli, Karaahmetli, Kanlıdivane (Canytelis) and Öküzlü Archaeological Sites (Erdemli)
• Kızkalesi (Maiden’s Castle) (Erdemli)
• Alahan Monastery, Dağpazarı Church, Mavga Castle (Mut)
• Laal Pasha Mosque and Mausoleum, Mut Castle (Mut)

CITY OF PORT

Mersin International Port is the biggest port of Turkey and it is capable of doing import and export with 5 continents. Mersin Port is the biggest transit port for Middle Eastern countries also it is the only port in Turkey which offers the all port services in the same field such as: container, general Cargo (dry bulk-liquid bulk) , ro-ro.

Mersin Port started to welcome the World biggest container ships by June 2016 within the scope of its new dock Project which was an investment worth of 170 million Dollars. Its total capacity has reached to 2, 2 million TEU.

On designated days of the week, Mersin port offers both way trips, to and from Cyprus and Lebanon for the passengers. Port also makes a contribution to Mersin tourism with welcoming Cruise ships. Port is a main structure of Mersin economy and Mersin Organized Industrial Area alongside the neighboring cities with having a direct connection to railway and its feature of having direct loading from ship to wagon.

SPORTS

XVII.th Mediterranean Games was held in Mersin in 2013 with the participation from 24 countries.

Numerous venue and infrastructure investment was made in Mersin in the scope of Mediterranean Games. Total of 500 Million Turkish Liras has spent for the construction of 11 brand new sports venue, ring roads, dormitories, hospitals, infrastructure works and renewing of the existing venues.

All the venues are still operational and hosting national and international events.

TRANSPORTATION

Airline transportation is offered from Adana Sakirpasa Airport which is 67 km. away from Mersin. The Cukurova Regional Airport is under construction which is 45 km away from Mersin.

There are regular services to Cyprus from Mersin and Tasucu.

There is a commuter train service between Mersin and Adana. The approximate travel time is about 45- 60 minutes.

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