Ordu facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ordu
City
From top:View from Boztepe,Tasbasi Church,Ordu city center,Ordu seaside,Ordu Boztepe Ropeway,Iason Church
Ordu Location in Turkey Show map of Turkey Ordu Location in Black Sea Show map of Black Sea Ordu Location in Europe Show map of Europe
Country	Turkey
Region	Black Sea
Province	Ordu
Elevation	5 m (16 ft)
Population  (2023)
• Urban	235.096
Time zone	UTC+3 (TRT)
Postal code	52xxx
Area code(s)	0452
Licence plate	52
Climate	Cfa

Ordu (pronounced OR-doo), also known as Altınordu, is a port city located on the Black Sea coast of Turkey. It is the main city of Ordu Province. Long ago, it was called Cotyora or Kotyora. In 2023, about 235,096 people lived in the city.

City Name: Ordu's Meaning

The first name of the city, Kotyora, came from the ancient Colchian people. This name likely means "a place where pottery is made." It comes from an old word for pottery in the Laz language. This idea is supported by other old place names in the area.

The current name, Ordu, means "army camp" in Ottoman Turkish. It was given during the time of the Ottoman Empire because there was an army outpost nearby.

Ordu's Past: A Look Back

Ordu during the Ottoman era

Ordu coast and Boztepe hill

Around 800 BC, the city of Cotyora was started by people from Miletus. It was one of many colonies they built along the Black Sea coast. Some old writings say it was a colony of Sinop.

A famous Greek writer named Xenophon wrote that a group of 10,000 Greek soldiers rested here for 45 days. This happened before they sailed home. Later, Cotyora joined with another city called Cerasus.

In 131 CE, a writer named Arrian described Cotyora as a small village.

Over time, different groups controlled the area. First, the Danishmends, then the Seljuk Turks in the 1200s. Later, the Hacıemiroğulları Beylik took over in 1346. Finally, the Ottomans gained control in 1461.

The modern city of Ordu was started by the Ottomans. They called it Bayramlı and built it as a military outpost. In 1869, the city's name officially became Ordu. It was joined with several nearby districts. At the start of the 1900s, many Christians lived in the city.

On April 4, 1921, Ordu became its own province. It was separated from the Trebizond region.

Discovering Ordu's Ancient Secrets

Archaeologists have found exciting things in Ordu. In 2016, they found a marble statue of Cybele, an ancient goddess. Two years later, they found sculptures of the gods Pan and Dionysus at the same spot.

In 2021, archaeologists were worried because a stone quarry used dynamite. This damaged some old rock tombs.

In December 2021, more discoveries were announced. Archaeologists found eight tombs that were 1600 years old. These tombs were in the Kurtulus area of Ordu. Inside, they found human and animal remains. They also uncovered many pieces of jewelry. These included items made of gold, sardine stone, silver, glass, and bronze. A glass bottle and beads were also found.

In the same area, researchers found a Byzantine monastery church. They believe it was built to honor Emperor Constantine and his mother Helena.

Life in Ordu Today

Old houses in Taşbaşı/Altınordu.

One popular place to visit is the Sağra factory shop. They sell many kinds of chocolate-covered hazelnuts.

The Boztepe aerial tramway is another big attraction. It's a cable car that takes you up a hill. This cable car is becoming a symbol of the city.

The local music in Ordu is like other music from the Black Sea region. It often features the kemençe, a special string instrument. The food in Ordu uses many local vegetables. You can find typical Turkish dishes like pide and kebab. But there are also unique treats, like plain or caramel 'burnt ice-cream'.

Ordu's Economy: The Hazelnut Capital

Ordu is very important for growing hazelnuts in Turkey. The city produces about 25 percent of all the hazelnuts grown worldwide. Hazelnuts are a huge part of Ordu's economy. Up to 80% of the money made in the province comes from this crop.

Overall, Turkey grows about 75 percent of the world's hazelnuts. A long time ago, in 1920, Ordu also grew white green beans. These beans were sent to Europe. The city also had mulberry tree farms for making silk. Today, Ordu has some industries and is part of a group called the Anatolian Tigers. This means it has several successful companies.

Places to Explore in Ordu

• Paşaoğlu Konağı and Ethnographic Museum – This museum shows how people lived in the past.
• Taşbaşı Cultural Centre – A place for cultural events and activities.
• Boztepe – This is a hill that is 550 meters (1,800 feet) high. It offers amazing views of the city. Since 2012, you can take an aerial lift (cable car) up the hill. The Ordu Boztepe Gondola can carry 900 people every hour. The ride to the top takes about 6.5 minutes.
• Old Houses of Ordu – You can see beautiful old buildings in the city center.
• Yalı Camii (also called Aziziye Camii) – A mosque.
• Atik İbrahim Paşa Camii (also called Orta Cami) – A mosque built in 1770.
• Eski Pazar Camii – A mosque with old Turkish baths next to it.
• Efirli Camii – Another mosque.
• Cape Jason – This is an Archaeological site and a small piece of land sticking out into the sea. Its name comes from the mythical leader Jason of the Argonauts.

Sports in Ordu

The city is home to the Orduspor football (soccer) club. Their home stadium is the 19 Eylül Stadium in the city center. The Orduspor football team has played in Turkey's top league, the Süper Lig, many times. The club also has a basketball team.

Ordu's Global Connections

Taşbaşı Church during the winter.

Ordu has special connections with other cities around the world. These are called twin towns or sister cities.

• Batumi, Georgia, since 2000
• Ganja, Azerbaijan

Ordu's Weather

Ordu has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has warm summers and cool winters. It gets a lot of rain throughout the year, especially in autumn and winter.

Sometimes, it snows between December and March. Snowfall can last for a week or two and can be quite heavy.

The water temperature in the Black Sea near Ordu is usually cool. It changes between 8 and 20 degrees Celsius (46 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit) all year.

Famous People from Ordu

Many well-known people come from Ordu, including:

• Gülşen – a popular singer
• Ertuğrul Günay – a politician who used to be in charge of Culture and Tourism
• Kadir İnanır – a famous actor
• Mehmet Hilmi Güler – a politician who was a Minister and is now the mayor of Ordu Province
• Numan Kurtulmuş – a politician
• Kamil Sönmez – a folk music artist from the Black Sea region
• Soner Arıca – a musician
• Erdoğan Arıca – a footballer

Mayors of Ordu Metropolitan Municipality

Here are some of the people who have been mayors of Ordu:

• 1977-1980 and 1984-1994 Kazım Türkmen (from different parties like CHP and SHP)
• 1994-2004 Fikret Türkyılmaz (from ANAP and MHP)
• 2004-2014 Seyit Torun (from DSP and CHP)
• 2014-2018 Enver Yılmaz (from AK Party)
• 2018-2019 Engin Tekintaş (from AK Party)
• 2019-present Hilmi Güler (from AK Party)

Sports Teams in Ordu

• Orduspor
• 52 Orduspor
• Orduspor 1967

See also

In Spanish: Ordu para niños