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machinery and food industries are quite developed. Meanwhile, there are cement, food processing, metal products and agricultural equipment manufacturing plants in Diyarbakır, Mardin and Şanlıurfa. |
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 Gaziantep, Conveying the Past to the Present: Gaziantep province, founded on fertile land, is the most prominent industrial and cultural center of the region, besides its agricultural riches. The downtown city is adorned with architectural works, the products of a rich history. The Monument of the Fallen erected in the name of those who had fought against the French occupation during the National War of Independence and thereby earned the title “Gazi” (war veteran) for the city, is worth visiting. The Kendirli Church in the city center, on the other hand, is a Catholic temple built 84 years ago during the French occupation. |
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| Located at the junction of the Syrian border and the Euphrates River, Kargamış is a prominent historical center which had served as the capital city of the Late Hittites. Another important Hittite city is Yesemek, close to İslahiye. The city, used as an outdoor sculpture atelier between the years 1200 and 800 B.C., is also one of the oldest stone quarries in Anatolia. Today there are 200 Hittite statues on the site. |
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| Belkıs (Zeugma), located at a distance of 10 km. from Nizip County, was an important Roman city in the past. The city, especially famed for its floor mosaics in the Roman buildings of that period, is worth touring. |
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| History Dating Back 9,000 Years: Şanlıurfa is a museum city with a history dating back 9,000 years. According to holy scriptures Şanlıurfa is the city where the Prophet Abraham, the forefather of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, was born; where the Prophet Job lived; and which was blessed by Jesus. |
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| Lake Balıklı is one of the most important historical and touristy spots in Şanlıurfa. It is believed that King Nimrod had the Prophet Abraham thrown into a big fire here, but the fire turned into water and spared Abraham. Legend says the |
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Balıklıgöl - ŞANLIURFA |
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| fire turned into today’s lake and the unburnt wood in the fire became the fish in the lake. In the vicinity of the lake inhabited by thousands of carp, are the Halil Rahman and Rizvaniye Mosques and also various recreational facilities. To the east of Balıklı Lake, the cave where the Prophet |
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