36 Geographical Regions
 
Geographical Regions 37  
 
   
 
 
  
  
   

Uludağ - BURSA
 
Balıkesir, an important province of the Marmara Region, is surrounded by the Marmara Sea in the north and the Aegean Sea in the west. Bandırma, the largest settlement of Balıkesir on the Marmara coast, is the second largest port in the Marmara Sea following İstanbul. To the northwest of Bandırma there is Erdek, known for its beaches and historical works of art. Finally by Manyas Lake, to the south of Bandırma, there is the Kuş Cenneti (Birds’ Paradise) National Park, visited by nearly 3 million birds of 239 species annually.
 
 
 
 
 

The Aegean shores of Balıkesir consist of the Edremit Bay and its vicinity. The Edremit Bay shores, replete with natural and historical riches, are covered with olive trees. Legend says the first beauty contest in the world was held on Ida Mountain, to the north of Edremit, currently a national park. Paris, the son of the king of Troy, used to live in these mountains.

  
 

Bilecik province founded on lands irrigated by the Sakarya River is an important center in terms of Ottoman history. This is where the Ottoman Empire was established in 1299. To 30 km. west of Bilecik, the Söğüt town, renowned for its ceramics, had been the first settlement of the Kayı, an old Turkish tribe.

 
The “Divine City” Trapped in Greenery: The French poet Henri de Regnier defined Bursa, the fifth largest province in Turkey lying at the foot of Mount Uludağ in greenery, as a “Divine City”.
 

In Bursa, designated by UNESCO as the utmost originally preserved environment in Europe; nature, history, greenery and architecture are unified in charming harmony. Famous for its silk products, towels and thermal springs, Bursa is also an important industrial center. Especially automotive and textiles industries are fully developed. The southern quarters of the city are abundant in Ottoman works of art and the Uludağ National Park, with modern facilities, is an ideal center for winter sports. İznik Lake, located in the northwest of the city, is a resort of scenic wonders. An important settlement during the Roman and Byzantine times, İznik preserved its trait in the Ottoman era as well. The best examples of ceramic art in the world were produced in this town by Ottoman artists. Çekirge, on the other hand, forms the thermal spa center of Bursa.