Heybeliada facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Heybeliada
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Neighbourhood
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Naval Cadet School in Heybeliada
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 Heybeliada
Location in Turkey
Heybeliada
Location in Istanbul
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| Country | Turkey |
| Province | Istanbul |
| District | Adalar |
| Population
(2022)
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4,424 |
| Time zone | TRT (UTC+3) |
Heybeliada is a beautiful island near Istanbul, Turkey. It is the second largest of the Princes' Islands in the Sea of Marmara. Its name means 'with a saddlebag' in Turkish. This is because of the way the island looks, with a valley between two hills. About 4,400 people live on Heybeliada.
Long ago, the island was called Halki. This name came from the Greek word for copper. Heybeliada was known for its copper mines in ancient times. In summer, many people visit or return to their summer homes. This makes the island's population grow to about 30,000 people.
A ship used by the Turkish Navy is named TCG Heybeliada after the island. It was launched in 2008. For a long time, the only way to get around the island was by horse-drawn carriages called phaetons. Only special vehicles like ambulances were allowed. But because of concerns for the horses, these carriages were replaced with electric vehicles in 2020. You can reach the island by ferries from different parts of Istanbul.
Contents
Exploring Heybeliada's Geography
Heybeliada is a small island, covering about 2.35 square kilometers. It has four main hills. The highest is Değirmen Tepesi (Mill Hill), which is 136 meters (446 feet) tall. The other hills are Ümit Tepesi (Hope Hill), Köy Tepesi (Village Hill), and Baltıcıoğlu Tepes (Woodcutter's Son Hill).
Fun Things to Do on Heybeliada
In summer, Heybeliada offers fun outdoor concerts. There is also a swimming and fitness club right by the sea. Every year on October 29, the island celebrates Independence Day with a special march. A naval band tours the island during this celebration.
Important Buildings and History
A large Naval High School stands on a hill overlooking the main dock. This school was first started in 1773. Inside its grounds is an old church called Kamariotissa. It is the only remaining Byzantine church on the island. This church was the last one built before Constantinople was conquered. It is not open to visitors.
Also in the school grounds is the grave of Edward Barton. He was an ambassador from England sent by Queen Elizabeth I. He came to Heybeliada in 1598 to escape a plague in Istanbul. His gravestone was later moved to a cemetery in Üsküdar.
The monastery of Hagios Georgios tou Kremnou (St George on the Cliff) was built in the late 1500s. It was a safe place for local Greek people when the plague spread on the mainland. Another monastery, built later, is now in ruins.
Mavromatakis Köşkü is a house that belonged to İsmet İnönü. He was the second President of Turkey and often visited the island. Sometimes, his house is open as a museum.
In the center of Heybeliada Town, you can find the Greek Orthodox church of Hagios Nikoloas (St Nicholas). It was built in 1857 on the site of an even older church. Nearby are the Ben Yazkor synagogue and Heybeliada Cami (mosque). These buildings show how different cultures lived together on the island long ago.
Like Büyükada, Heybeliada has many beautiful old mansions from the 1800s. You can see them on streets like Lozan Zeferi and Refah Şehitler.
The Halki Seminary
On Ümit Tepesi (Hope Hill) is the Greek Orthodox monastery of Hagia Triada. This monastery is also home to the Halki Theological Seminary. This seminary was a very important school for training Greek Orthodox priests in Turkey.
The seminary has a long and interesting history. It was rebuilt many times after being destroyed by fires or earthquakes. However, in 1971, the seminary had to close down. This happened because of a new law in Turkey about private universities. Its closure made it difficult to train new Greek Orthodox clergy in Turkey. There have been talks about reopening the seminary in the future.
Famous People from Heybeliada
Many well-known people have lived on or visited Heybeliada:
- İsmet İnönü: The second president of Turkey.
- Edward Barton: An ambassador from England during the time of Queen Elizabeth I.
- Hüseyin Rahmi Gürpınar: A famous Turkish novelist and politician.
- Nicodemus I: A patriarch of Jerusalem.
- Ahmet Rasım: A Turkish writer and historian.
Images for kids
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Naval Cadet School in Heybeliada
See also
In Spanish: Heybeliada para niños
