Kartal
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Kartal is a district of Istanbul, Turkey which is located on the Asian side of the city, by the coast of the Marmara Sea on south west part of the Kocaeli Peninsula. Kartal has a total population of 407,865 (2000 census). Total land area is 147,000 m² including the country side.
The name "Kartal" is the Turkish word for "Eagle".
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History
The downtown of Kartal was a fisher village during the Byzantine Empire which was called as Kartalimen, founded at the beginning of 6th century. In 11th century the town was conquered by the ruler of the Seljuks, Suleiman Shah and finally in 1329, Kartal became part of the Ottoman Empire.
In 1947, Kartal area was declared an industrial area and by the construction of the Haydarpasa–Gebze railroad line in 1973, Kartal became one of the most important industrial areas of Istanbul. There are about 400 large and middle sized factories, 1,300 workshops and over 1,200 shops and offices in central Kartal including the northern part of the district called Samandira. In these factories and workshops, more than 40,000 people are employed.
In 1987 Pendik, and in 1992 Maltepe, Tuzla and Sultanbeyli were separated from Kartal as different districts of Istanbul.
Transportation
In Kartal, main means of transportation are sea, railway and mainroads. Kartal is at 15 minutes distance to Sabiha Gokcen International Airport at Kurtköy, Pendik. Also there are scheduled boat trips to Adalar (Princes' Islands) and to Yalova Province. The main road to Bosporus Bridge and Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, and the European Road Network motorway E5 cross over Kartal, too. Also Bagdat Avenue which extends from Pendik to Kadikoy district and the coastal road running between Tuzla and Pendik and Sultanbeyli districts to the east, Umraniye to the north, Maltepe to the west and Marmara Sea to the south.
- Geological Structure: The lowest point of Kartal is the downtown which is at sea level. The highest point is the 537 metres high (Aydos Mointain) to the north. The Kartal coast has sandy and clay soils, whereas the northern part of the district is mostly silica. On the Yakacik Hill, there are limestone and quartz deposits.
- Waters: The streams of Paşakoy, Kavaklidere and Findikli feed the artificial lake of the Omerli Dam. The Ayazma Fountain in Black Sea and Mediterranean climate. In winters, Kartal's weather is affected by the cold air currents of the Balkans, rainy climate of Black Sea and warmer climate of the Mediterranean Sea. The winter begins in December to April, and it snows for 7 days, and frosts 25 days a year at average.
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