Karabük Province

Template:Infobox Turkey place Karabük Province (Template:Langx) is a landlocked province in the northern part of Anatolia (northern central Turkey), located about Template:Convert north of Ankara, Template:Convert away from Zonguldak and Template:Convert away from Kastamonu. Its area is 4,142 km²,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and its population is 252,058 (2022).<ref name=tuik>Template:Cite web</ref> The main city is Karabük which is located about Template:Convert south of the Black Sea coast.

Overview

Karabük Province is one of the newest provinces of Turkey. Established in 1995, it comprises Karabük, Eflani, Safranbolu and Yenice districts which were formerly part of Zonguldak Province and Eskipazar and Ovacık districts which were previously part of Çankırı Province.<ref>Karar Sayısı: KHK/550, Resmî Gazete, 6 June 1995.</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Karabük is located on the highway between Bartın and Ankara, which was in ancient times an important route between Amasra on the coast and central Anatolia. The railway between Ankara and Zonguldak passes through Karabük.

Safranbolu, a historically important city, which is listed in the UNESCO World Heritage List, is located in Karabük Province.

Districts

Karabük province is divided into 6 districts (capital district in bold):

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History

Archaeological surface surveys carried out around Eskipazar and Ovacık suggest that human settlement in the Karabük region began as early as the Early Bronze Age. Specifically, the village of Yazıboy in Eskipazar is identified as the oldest known settlement site within the province. A tumulus there has been dated to approximately 2500 BC; placing it firmly in the Early Bronze Age period.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Yapp, Malcolm Edward, Dewdney, John C.. "Turkey". Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 Jun. 2025, https://www.britannica.com/place/Turkey. Accessed 21 June 2025</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. "Zonguldak". Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 May. 2014, https://www.britannica.com/place/Zonguldak-Turkey. Accessed 21 June 2025</ref>

Karabük’s location along the ancient trade route between Amasra on the Black Sea coast and Central Anatolia has long shaped its significance.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref> However, modern Karabük itself emerged only in the early Turkish Republic era. Initially, it was a small settlement of around 13 houses in the village of Öğlebeli, part of Safranbolu district, adjacent to a station on the Ankara–Zonguldak railway line.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">Template:Cite web</ref> Following the establishment of the Karabük Iron and Steel Factory in 1939, the settlement grew rapidly, earning municipality status in 1941, district status in 1953, and eventually becoming the capital of the newly created Karabük Province in 1995.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Gallery

Traditional houses of Safranbolu
Historical shoe-maker shops in Safranbolu
Zonguldak - Karabük service crossing the Filyos river near the Bolkuş village in Karabük Province.
Bostancı Pond in Eflani
Eflani countryside