Yalova-a meeting place of history and nature

Many people say that this place is a paradise where unique natural beauty, historic remains and thermal springs have made their meeting. It is true. Yalova is situated on the south-east coast of the Marmara Sea and on the north foothills of the Samanli Mountains (Turkey). This harbor city attracts tourists with the cold waters of the sea, on the one hand, and the endless forests, on another one. With its climate which is something between the Mediterranean climate and the maritime climate of the Black Sea region, Yalova is a place where tourism activities can be enjoyed during the whole year.

Yalova is a bridge between Istanbul, Bursa and Kocaeli-both in sea and land transportation. The distance between the cities is as follows: 69 km from Bursa, 63 km from Kocaeli and 174 km from Istanbul. There are regular express and sea bus services from Yalova to Istanbul-Yenikapi, Kartal and Pendik and ferry services between Topcular and Eskihisar.

The social structure of Yalova has  heterogeneous characteristics because so many people immigrate from the Balkans and Crimea in 1893. Among these immigrants were Turks from Bulgaria, Dagistan, former Yugoslavia, Romania and Greece, the Circassians, the Georgians and the Laz.  All these people together with the native people with their own cultural development have contributed to a beautiful cultural mosaic of the city of Yalova which has granted city status in 1995. Yalova has six districts-Altinova, Ciftlikkoy, Termal, Cinarcik, Armutlu and the center district. Yalova region was known under the name”Yalakova” (15th-16th c) and “Yalakabad”, probably because of the thermal springs in the region.