Gerede

Gerede

Gerede is a district of Bolu. It is located in the Black Sea Region, east of Bolu, with a surface area of 1255 km². It is surrounded by Kızılcahamam and Çamlıdere in the southeast, Çerkeş and Eskipazar in the northeast, Dörtdivan in the southwest, Mengen in the north, and Yeniçağa districts in the west. In a location where the Central Anatolia Region passes through the Western Black Sea, it is a wavy land with an average altitude of 1470 meters, surrounded by mountains covered with forests, and its climate is a very harsh, rainy plain. The district is quite cold and winters last 5-6 months. Although it is not the coldest region in winter (average -25 degrees), it is one of the coolest regions in summer. The temperature rarely exceeds 25 degrees. Night temperatures drop abnormally even in summer. Local elders say that they witnessed snowfall in July when they were young, and that they would dig tunnels out of their homes in the winter. Gerede plateaus are located in flat strips at 1600-1900 meters in the northern mountainous area and 1700-2200 meters in the southern mountainous area. Gerede has forest sports areas that are very suitable for international ski-running, cycling and cross-country competitions. The world's closest ski resort to an international highway is in Gerede. There are 2 cross-country ski tracks on Arkut Mountain, 5 km long and 1 km long, which have been homogenised by FIS (International Ski Federation). Competitions are held every year in March, organized by the Turkish Ski Federation and attended by many countries. In addition, cross-country ski tracks with lengths of 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 km are kept open during the winter months and are offered to cross-country ski enthusiasts. Cross-country skiing is the permanent camp center of the national team. Arkut Mountain, located in Gerede, is the heart of Turkey and its window to the World. There is a teleski on Arkut Mountain, operated by Esentepe Hotel and built in 2008. Many winter activities are also carried out on Arkut Mountain, which has the most suitable tracks for beginners in alpine skiing. In addition, Arkut Mountain has a geographical structure that can be a training and competition area for many sports branches. In his thesis about the region, Dr. Halil Aydınalp writes that the city has a history dating back to ancient times: "Gerede has a very old history dating back to ancient times. The district is a border city between the ancient Bithynia and Paphlagonia regions. It existed in the region before the Seljuk and Ottoman dominations, respectively. Paphlagon was established in 300 BC, Bithynia in 260-228 BC, Pontus in 89 BC, Rome in 70-71 BC, and Eastern Roman, that is, Byzantine, domination was observed when Rome was divided into two in AD 395. Although the exact date of foundation is unknown, it was founded by the Bithynians at the same time as other cities. Gerede, which is understood to be an ancient Paphlagonia colonized town, is thought to have a very old history dating back to the 3rd century BC. The name of the Gerede district also dates from these ancient times. The first name of the region is Cressa, an old settlement of the Paphlagonians. It was taken by the Bithynians. "After it was occupied and the region became a Bithynia colony, its name became Kratia. The name Kratia must have turned into Gerede over time - especially since it was easier to pronounce, especially after the region was controlled by Muslim Turks."