KIRIKKALE
As a city, the establishment and development or Kırıkkale is rather new. But its surrounding geographical areas are known to be very old settlement area going back centuries. Archeological items like caves, underground cities and ardtifical mounds founds in different parts of this province prove such knowledge.
After the Malazgirt Victory of 1071, the area around Bohrek Mountain, being a hinterland of Kırıkkale, became the first place of struggles for Anatolia to be a Turkish and İslamic land. Then, one of the first Türk-İslam settlement centrs is Balişeyh town which was established in 1120 AD.
During the succeeding centuries, it is seen that various Oğuz Türkmen tribes were inhabited in this area. These tribes had moved from Central Asia to Anatolia. There are Otoman Empire archives about “Oğuzhan tribe inhabited in region called”Kırıkkale” (as it was prounced at that time) nearby Ankara. These documents show us that this region had been called Kırıkkala 200-300 years ago. During the last period of Otoman Empire the Kırıkkale region attracted the atention with settlement areas like Yahşihan, Kırıkköy and Yuvaköy and Kızılırmak valley of Keskin subdivision of Kırşehir sanjak of Ankara Province.
Also Evliya Çelebi mentioned with praise the settlement areas in the surrounding of Kırıkkale on the way of the Silk Road like Keskin, Yahşihan and Sulakyurt.
With the construction of Weapon İndustry, in the early years of the Republic of Turkey, Kırıkkale became an important settlement centre of the region with its history, culture and indurstry.
GEOGRAPHİCAL CHARACTERİSTİCS
Kırıkkale is among the cities situated in central Anatolia. Its altitude from the sea level is 700 mts, and it covers an area of about 4600 kms square . Kırıkkale is located in the middle of the Kızılırmak River.
Kırıkkale is surrounded by Çorum, Yozgat and Kırşehir to the east, Kırşehir to the South, Ankara to the west, and Çankırı to the north.
The province of Kırıkkale is, for the most part, surrounded by a number of rivers. These rivers play an important part in the formation of natural borders with neighbouring provinces.
Its western border is separated from Ankara by means of the Kızılırmak river; its eastern border with Kırşehir by Kılıçözü stream; and its western border with Çorum by Delice stream.
THE MAIN PLANTS
The natural plantation of Kırıkkale is made up of stepe plants. A wide variety of plants tend to be dry and salty. Plants such as geven, harmal and thistle are typical examples. Those which grow spontaneously are rather rich. Yavşanotu, carnation, daisy, purge, mint, balckberry, netle, licorice, kuşburnu, madımak, ebegümeci, mustard and thyme can in particular be mentioned. The woodlands of Kırıkkale are only a few. The forests in Sulakyurt, Koçubaba and Denek consist of dumpy oak and partially of juniper.
CLIMATIC FEATURES
The climate of Kırıkkale can be described as a continental climate. Accordingly, winters are cold and rainy, and summers are hot and dry. However Kırıkkale also has a partially mild climate because of some topographical features. Here a variety of small islets of climate can be found. All kinds of vegetables and furits are grown earlier than the other provinces because some of these islets are below 700 mts.
Annual average rainfall in the province is about 355 mms. In winter, it often rains in the form of snow due to high pressure. In spring, the rainfall reaches at its highest. In summer, the rainfall is minimal. In fall, it tends to increase.
The annual average temperature of Kırıkkale is 11-12 degrees. July and August are the hottest months, whereas January and February are the coldest.
MOUNTAINS
The Karagüney mountains cause the North of the province to be steeped and broken. The Tokus mountain (1306 mts) is located in the North of Kırıkkale. Denek mountain is located in the middle of Kırıkkale and its altitude is 1744 mts. The Küre mountain (1522 mts) is located in the west of Kırıkkale, whereas the Karaca mountain is the southwest of Kırıkkale. The Behrek mountain (1522 mts) is located in between Keskin and Çelebi. The Denek mountain range extends along Keskin and Çelebi and the Denek mountain range extends between Keskin and İzzettin villages in the South of Çoruhözü.
POPULATION
Altough it was a village of 12 houses in 1925, today, Kırıkkale is the 22 nd biggest city in Turkey. The first census in Kırıkkale was conducted in 1940. Its population that year was 11.484. When Kırıkkale was a district of Ankara in 1950, its population was 15.750; in 1960 42.000; in 1970 91.658 and in 2000 205.078.
KIRIKKALE’S TURNING INTO A PROVINCE
While a district of Ankara, Kırıkkale was accorded the status of a province in accordance with the law no 3578 of 21 June 1989. Today, Kırıkkale is the 22nd largest city in Turkey with its 9 districts, 174 villages, and on the basis of a General Population Census conducted in 1990, a population of 349.396. The first Governor to be appointed to Kırıkkale was Fikret Güven (1989-1992), and the rest are as follows: Uğur İnan (1992-1993), Şahabettin Harput (1993-1996), Behiç Çelik (1996-2003) and Mustafa Bahrettin Demirer (2003-….)
HASANDEDE MOSQUE AND TOMBS
The complex of Hasandede mosque and tombs is located in Hasandede town, 10 km. from the city centrum of Kırıkkale. The mosque was built by Hasandede (Doğan bey) in 1605 AD. İt has been restored three times; in 1777 (by Mustafa Efendi), in 1807 (by Sheikh İbrahim), and in 1894 (by Seikh Vali). The walls, made of red and brown “Kufeki” stones, are rather thick. The minaret made of brick is called “cherafat”. The mihrab made of plaster,is ornamented with geomatric shaped relieves. On of the tombs, on the west of the mosque, belong to Hasandede and the other to his sons.
SHEIK SAMI MOSQUET TOMB
Situated in the centre of Sulakyurt Mosque constructed by Sheik Sami who is the founder of city. His tomb is near this mosque.
RAHMİ PEHLİVANLI
Born in Keskin, a town of Kırıkkale, had used a classical style in his first paintings. Later on he developed his own special way of painting and became famous in Turkey and in the world. In 1952, he began to make potraits by that of Nene Hatun, the brave Turkish woman who joined the Aziziye Defense of 93 (1877-78). This work of him exhibited in the Military Museum.
Because of his international success in his artistic Works and his own special technique of painting, the Pan-News Acengy chose him as “the man of the year 1978”. In 1981, he was awarded with an honorary membership by “Roma Acedemico Benemerito”. He made 29 portraits of local and foreign political leaders.
LOCAL DRESSES
Ornoments hold an important place in traditional woman dresses. On head; coloured head scarf, hand painted cloths with a kind of embroidery, embroidered winding with gilded silver or gold thread, chin and neck woofts, red-green-blue “ziliflik” swinging down on both sides of the head. On the back; shirt made of raw silk, over it gaity waistcost is weared. Over te waist; silk thread or cashmere shawl belt is attached. Silk speckled apron or three skirt baggy thousers is usually weared. Rich people wear belts with reliefed buckles over their waists. On the feet; socks knitted from angora and special “onguraklı” shoes or shoes with soft bases are weared.
FOLK DANCES
In Kırıkkale region, various folk dances originated from different parts of Turkey are played. They include “Mork Koyun, Menekşe, Hüdayda, Bugün Ayın Işığı, Kerpiç Kerpiç Üstüne and Slow Bar “
Special favourite folk dances of Keskin and Kırıkkale are “Ağır Halay, İkileme, Üçleme” called in general “Halay”.
NATURALATTRACTIONS
Streams : Kızılırmak River, Delice Creek, Okun Stream, Çoruhözü, Acıözü and Kılıçözü.
Lakes : Dipsiz and Kepir lakes, Kapulukaya Dam Lake, Ahılı Pond.
High Plateaus : Hodar, Bedesten, Kamilsi and Sarıkaya on Küre Mountain; Gümüşpınarı, Pehlivanlı, Suludere, Yeşilkaya and Azgın on Denek Mountain; Koçu and Koçu Mountain.
Kızılırmak Valley : Provides all recreational facilities to the people living in Kırıkkale and in nerarby areas. After completion of the Gren Valley Project a zone of 24 km in lenght will become a cultural and touristic centre.
THE CESNIGIR BRIDGE
The Çeşnigir Bridge was built by great Turkish Architect Sinan during the military expedition of Yavuz Sultan Selim ton conquer Egypt. It had been used as water crossing on Kızılırmak river before the construction of Kapulukaya Dam, but the piers of bridge are now in the reservoir.
THE CUISINE OF KIRIKKALE
The cuisine of Kırıkkale is a reflection of the classical Middle Anatolian dişhes. Those who come to the city tend to choose the kind of dishes that is characteristic of their place of origin. Nonetheless certain dishes peculiar to this region have also developed.
As vegetable growing and animal husbandry constitue a very important source of income, the types of food cooked in this region have developed accordingly.
In all rural areas. “yufka” (thin layer of dough) is baked as bread. Various foods have sprung from “yufka” among which “bazlama, gözleme, alazlama, kömbe and katmer” are particularly widespread.
All sorts of vegetable dishes are available in the region, like bean, aubergine, potato, courgette and cabbage which can be either fried, boiled, watered or roasted.
Altough meat can ber used as addition to every meal, it is the main ingredient of diferent varieties of dishes. Boil-among the animal products milk, yoghurt and cheese can be used as addition to every kind of dishes. Morever, they are used in dishes like “çılbır”, and in dessert like rice puding.
Some of the dishes which distinguish this region from the others are the following:
Arap aşı, batallaş, çürütme (çılbır), su böreği and mantı as pastry.
Grapes obtained in particular from the vineyards of Hasandede are used to make desserts like “pekmez” (boiled grape juice), “çalma, ekşi, ayranlı pekmez (boiled grape juice with buttermilk), yumurta tatlısı (egg sweet)”. Besides, helva (sweetmeat prepared with seasame oil), “haside” and “höşmerim” are also among the sweets made in the region.
COMMON PROVERBS AND IDIOMS USED IN THE REGION
- Since Allah exists, there is no hardship.
- The feet suffer the foolishness of the head.
- Two skins cannot be obtained from one sheep.
- One who holds honey on the fingers, licks his/her finger.
- You are a poor fool, what is there for you in a silver pipe (zurna).
- One who does not show mercy on himself, will not show it to his beloved.
- Gin is not the same as Satan
- That which is needed should be kept away from the unneeded.
- The stone will not desert its hometown unless the saddlebag begins to slide down.
- A woman is not a bag whom you can throw out as you wish.
- The young girl who relies on her lover, ends us with no husband.
- An ill-mannered person is like an untinned (copper) plate.
- Your charity would beter be worth the frogs you’ve frightened.
- Tha son of a wolf will be a wolf.
- Allah is the guarantor of sustenance.
- Summer does not arrive with only one flower blossoming.
- The flood goes but the sand remains.

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