View source for Kars Province

{{Short description|Province of Turkey}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{pp-extended|small=yes}}
{{Infobox Turkey place
| type                 = province
| name                 = 
| other_name           = Kars ili
| image_skyline        = Kars, Turkey.jpg
| image_caption        = Kars city
| image_shield         = 
| image_map            = Kars in Turkey.svg
| map_caption          = Location of the province within Turkey
| seat                 = [[Kars]]
| leader_name          = Türker Öksüz
| area_footnotes       = 
| area_total_km2       = 10193
|leader_title=[[Governor of Kars|Governor]]| elevation_m          = 
| population_footnotes = <ref name=tuik/>
| population_total     = 274829
| population_as_of     = 2022
| website              = {{URL|http://www.kars.gov.tr/}}
| area_code            = 0474
}}
'''Kars Province''' ({{langx|tr|Kars ili}}; [[Azerbaijani language|Azerbaijani]]: Qars Rayonu; {{langx|ku|Parêzgeha Qersê}};<ref>{{cite news |title=Li Qersê 12 kes hatin desteserkirin |url=https://www.rudaw.net/kurmanci/kurdistan/230720196 |access-date=27 April 2020 |agency=Rûdaw |date=23 July 2019 |language=ku}}</ref> {{langx|hy|Կարսի նահանգ}}<ref>{{cite news |title=111-ամյա տատիկը՝ ծննդավայր Կարսի կարոտով |url=https://www.azatutyun.am/a/30575053.html |access-date=27 April 2020 |agency=Azatutyun |date=24 April 2020 |language=hy}}</ref>) is a [[Provinces of Turkey|province]] of [[Turkey]], located in the northeastern part of the country. It shares part of its closed border with [[Armenia]]. Its area is 10,193&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.harita.gov.tr/uploads/files-folder/il_ilce_alanlari.xlsx|title=İl ve İlçe Yüz ölçümleri|publisher=General Directorate of Mapping|access-date=19 September 2023}}</ref> and its population is 274,829 (2022).<ref name=tuik>{{Cite web |title=Address-based population registration system (ADNKS) results dated 31 December 2022, Favorite Reports|url=https://biruni.tuik.gov.tr/medas/?kn=95&locale=en |access-date=19 September 2023|publisher=[[TÜİK]]|language=en|format=XLS}}</ref> The provincial capital is the city of [[Kars]]. The provinces of [[Ardahan Province|Ardahan]] and [[Iğdır Province|Iğdır]] were part of Kars Province until 1992.<ref name=law3806>[https://www.resmigazete.gov.tr/arsiv/21247_1.pdf Kanun No. 3806], Resmî Gazete, 3 June 1992.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=İl İdaresi ve Mülki Bölümler Şube Müdürlüğü İstatistikleri - İl ve İlçe Kuruluş Tarihleri |url=https://www.icisleri.gov.tr/kurumlar/icisleri.gov.tr/IcSite/illeridaresi/İstatistiki%20Bilgiler/İl%20İdaresi%20ve%20Mülki%20Bölümler/il%20ilce%20kurulus%20tarihleri_2019.pdf |access-date=25 October 2023|pages=11, 40 |language=tr}}</ref>

==History==
In ancient times, Kars ({{langx|hy|Կարս}}) was part of the province of Ararat in the [[Kingdom of Armenia (antiquity)|Kingdom of Armenia]]. The first known people were the followers of Vanand (Վանանդ), for whom Kars was their main settlement and fortress. In 928, Kars became the capital of [[Bagratid Armenia]]. In 968, the capital of Armenia was moved to [[Ani]], but Kars remained the capital of the feudal principality of [[Vanand]].

The [[Seljuq dynasty|Seljuks]] quickly relinquished direct control over Kars and it became a small emirate whose territory corresponded closely to that of Vanand, and which bordered the similarly created but larger [[Shaddadids|Shaddadid]] emirate centered at Ani. The Kars emirate was a vassal of the [[Saltukids]] in Erzurum, whose forces were effective in opposing [[Kingdom of Georgia|Georgian]] attempts at seizing Kars. Later on, in 1207, Georgian and Armenian forces commanded by [[David Soslan]] and brothers [[Ivane Mkhargrdzeli|Ivane]] and [[Zakaria II Mkhargrdzeli|Zakare Zakarian-Mkhargrzeli]] captured Kars after a long siege. It was a part of Zakarid Armenia, 
principality under rule of Zakarians–Mkhargrdzeli, vassals of Bagrationi dynasty of Georgia. [[George IV of Georgia|George IV]] son of [[Tamar of Georgia|Tamar]], was appointed as a [[viceroy]] of Kars{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}}. It was conquered in 1242 by the [[Mongols]]; was regained by Georgian Kingdom during the reign of [[George V of Georgia|George V the Brilliant]] (1314–1346) and remained as part of the Kingdom before its disintegration, which then passed into the hands of [[Samtskhe atabegate|Georgian Atabegs]] belonging to the [[House of Jaqeli]]{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}}. During the rule of the Persian Empire and the [[Ottoman Empire]], the fortress of Kars, located in what was then the eastern part of the city, fell into disrepair. However, as Kars was within a border region its defensive structures were often renewed, and they continued to advance to such a degree, that in the 19th century Kars was well known around the world as a castle.

As a result of the [[History of the Russo-Turkish wars|Russo-Turkish War]] of 1877 to 1878, the province of Kars was incorporated into the [[Russian Empire]] as part of the militarily administered [[Kars Oblast]] and remained so until 1918. It was seen as a border province of a Russian Empire which was seeking to expand yet further by the conquest of more territory belonging to the Ottoman Empire.<ref name="Coene, Frederik 2011">Coene, Frederik, 'The Caucasus - An Introduction', (2011)</ref> The period from 1878 to 1918 was marked in the province of Kars by the settlement by the Russian authorities of a very heterogeneous mix of Christian populations, including [[Armenians]], [[Caucasus Greeks]], [[Russians]], [[Georgians]]{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}}, and even smaller numbers from other Christian communities hitherto with little or no historical links to the region, such as [[Caucasus Germans|ethnic Germans]], [[Polish people|Poles]], [[Estonians]], [[Lithuanians]], and Russian sectarian communities such as [[Molokans]] and [[Doukhobors]]. Many from the non-Russian Christian Orthodox communities (Georgians, Caucasus Greeks, and the minority of Armenians who were Lessor Orthodox) had themselves fought in or collaborated with the Russian Imperial army to capture Kars province from the Muslim Ottomans. They saw this as a means of fulfilling their own ambitions to recapture Christian territory on the back of the Russian imperial enterprise.<ref name="Coene, Frederik 2011"/>{{Verify source|date=May 2021}}

=== As a part of Turkey ===
In September 1935 the third [[Inspectorates-General (Turkey)|Inspectorate General]] (''Umumi Müfettişlik,'' UM) was created.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/20607|title=Üçüncü Umumi Müfettişliği'nin Kurulması ve III. Umumî Müfettiş Tahsin Uzer'in Bazı Önemli Faaliyetleri|website=Dergipark|page=2|access-date=8 April 2020}}</ref> The Inspectorates Generals regions ruled with wide-ranging authority over the population in order to [[Turkification|Turkify]] its population.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pure.uva.nl/ws/files/867135/65687_13.pdf|title=Young Turk social engineering : mass violence and the nation state in eastern Turkey, 1913- 1950|last=Üngör|first=Umut|website=University of Amsterdam|pages=244–247|access-date=8 April 2020}}</ref> The third UM span over the provinces of [[Erzurum Province|Erzurum]], [[Artvin Province|Artvin]], [[Rize Province|Rize]], [[Trabzon Province|Trabzon]], Kars [[Gümüşhane Province|Gümüşhane]], [[Erzincan Province|Erzincan]] and [[Ağrı Province|Ağrı]]. It was governed by an Inspector General seated in the city of [[Erzurum]].<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite book|last=Bayir|first=Derya|title=Minorities and Nationalism in Turkish Law|date=2016-04-22|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-317-09579-8|pages=139–141|language=en}}</ref> The Inspectorate General was dissolved in 1952 during the Government of the [[Democrat Party (Turkey, 1946–61)|Democrat Party]].<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Fleet|first1=Kate|title=The Cambridge History of Turkey|last2=Kunt|first2=I. Metin|last3=Kasaba|first3=Reşat|last4=Faroqhi|first4=Suraiya|date=2008-04-17|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-62096-3|pages=343|language=en}}</ref>

== Geology and geomorphology ==
===Lakes===
The main lakes in Kars are [[Lake Aygır (Kars)|Lake Aygır]], [[Lake Çıldır]] and [[Lake Kuyucuk]].

===Mountains===
The main mountains in Kars are the
[[Allahuekber Mountains]], Mount Soğanlı and [[Aras Mountains]].

==Demographics==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! rowspan="2" |Nationality<ref name="Turkishcensus" >{{cite book |author1=Fuat Dündar |title=Türkiye Nüfus Sayımlarında Azınlıklar |date=2000 |publisher=Civiyazilari |isbn=97 5-80 86-77-4 |language=tr}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |1874<sup>1</sup><ref>{{cite book |author1=Georg Kobro |title=Das Gebiet von Kars und Ardahan |date=1991 |location=Munich |language=de}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |1897<sup>2</sup><ref>{{cite web |title=Первая всеобщая перепись населения Российской Империи 1897 г. Распределение населения по родному языку и уездам Российской Империи кроме губерний Европейской России |url=http://www.demoscope.ru/weekly/ssp/emp_lan_97_uezd.php?reg=399 |access-date=19 January 2020 |publisher=Демоскоп Weekly |language=ru}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |1916<ref name=":02">{{Cite book |url=https://www.prlib.ru/item/417322 |title=Кавказский календарь на 1917 год |publisher=Tipografiya kantselyarii Ye.I.V. na Kavkaze, kazenny dom |year=1917 |edition=72nd |publication-place=Tiflis |pages=198–201 |language=Russian |trans-title=Caucasian calendar for 1917 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211104233151/https://www.prlib.ru/item/417322 |archive-date=4 November 2021}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |1927<sup>3</sup>
! colspan="2" |1950<sup>4</sup>
! colspan="2" |1965
!2017<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Deniz Özyakişir |date=October 2017 |title=Göç olgusuna etnik kimlik açısından bir yaklaşım: kars örneği |url=http://www.sosyalarastirmalar.com/cilt10/sayi52_pdf/6iksisat_kamu_isletme/ozyakisir_deniz.pdf |language=tr |page=1133 |access-date=19 January 2020}}</ref>
|-
!Number
! %
!Number
! %
!Number
!%
!Number
! %
!Number
! %
!Number
! %
!%
|-
|[[Turkic peoples]]||22,758||{{Pct | 22758|36822| 1 }} ||103,457||{{Pct |103457 |290654| 1 }}
|102,748
|28.21||160,576 ||{{Pct |160192|204846| 1 }} ||311,400||{{Pct |311400|410236| 1 }} ||471,287||{{Pct |471287|606313| 1 }}||66.8%
|-
|[[Kurds]]<sup>6</sup>||6,404||{{Pct | 6404|36822| 1 }} ||42,968||{{Pct |42968 |290654| 1 }} 
|67,450
|18.52||42,945||{{Pct |42945|204846| 1 }} ||94,847||{{Pct |94847|410236| 1 }}|| 134,136||{{Pct |134136|606313| 1 }}||33.2%
|-
|[[Armenians]]||5,014||{{Pct |5014 |36822| 1 }} ||73,406||{{Pct | 73406|290654| 1 }} 
|118,217
|32.46||21||{{Pct |21|204846| 1 }} ||23||{{Pct |23|410236| 1 }}|| 5||{{Pct |5|606313| 1 }}||{{N/A}}
|-
|[[Greeks]]||681||{{Pct | 681|36822| 1 }} ||32,593||{{Pct | 32593|290654| 1 }} 
|16,787
|4.61||0||{{Pct |0|204846| 1 }} ||13||{{Pct |13|410236| 1 }}||6||{{Pct |6|606313| 1 }}||{{N/A}}
|-
|[[Slavs]]||{{N/A}} ||{{N/A}} ||31,099||{{Pct | 31099|290654| 1 }} 
|18,997
|5.22||{{N/A}} ||{{N/A}} ||565||{{Pct |567|410236| 1 }}|| 75||{{Pct |75|606313| 1 }}||{{N/A}}
|-
|Others||1,965||{{Pct |1965 |36822| 1 }} ||7,131||{{Pct |7131|290654| 1 }} 
|40,015
|10.99||1,688||{{Pct |1688|204846| 1 }} ||3,388||{{Pct |3386|410236| 1 }} ||804||{{Pct |804|606313| 1 }}||{{N/A}}
|-
| colspan="17" align="left" | <small><sup>1</sup> [[Kars Eyalet]] [[salname]],<sup>2</sup> [[Russian Empire Census]] results in [[Kars Oblast]], <sup>3</sup> First Turkish census concerning mother tongue in Kars Province (including [[Ardahan Province]]),<br><sup>4</sup> Includes Ardahan Province<sup>6</sup> Includes [[Zazas]] and [[Yezidis]].</small>
|}

==Districts==
[[File:Kars location districts.png|320px|thumb|left]]
Kars province is divided into 8 [[List of districts in Turkey|districts]] (''ilçe''), each named after the administrative center of the district:
* [[Akyaka District|Akyaka]]
* [[Arpaçay District|Arpaçay]]
* [[Digor District|Digor]]
* [[Kağızman District|Kağızman]]
* '''[[Kars District|Kars]]'''
* [[Sarıkamış District|Sarıkamış]]
* [[Selim District|Selim]]
* [[Susuz District|Susuz]]

There are 382 villages in Kars Province.
{{clear left}}

==Kars nature, wildlife and ecotourism==
[[File:Church of Abughamrents Ani 4.JPG|thumb|right|250px|The [[church of St. Gregory of the Abughamrents]] in [[Ani]]]]
Kars has a wealth of wildlife that is being documented by the Kars-Iğdır Biodiversity Project run by the [[Kuzey Doga|KuzeyDoğa Society]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kuzeydoga.net|title=kuzeydoga}}</ref> The project has recorded 356 of Turkey's 486 bird species in the region, including Ardahan and Iğdır provinces that were formerly part of Kars. At least 233 of these occur at [[Lake Kuyucuk]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kuyucuk.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080302213201/http://kuyucuk.org/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2008-03-02|title=Kuyucuk Lake Project|website=www.kuyucuk.org}}</ref> that is the most important wetland in the region. Sarıkamış Forests in the south harbor [[Indian wolves]], [[Syrian brown bear]], [[Caucasian lynx]] and other animals, and Aras (Araxes) River wetlands comprise a key stop-over site for many migrating birds. Aras River Bird Research and Education Center at Yukarı Cıyrıklı village has recorded 303 bird species at this single location alone.

==Economy==
The economy of Kars Province is dominated by agriculture, livestock breeding and forestry. 85% of the active population in Kars Province are farmers or herders. 60% of the [[gross domestic income]] is received from those sectors. Industry, tourism and commerce is developing.<ref name="cd">{{cite web |url=http://www.cografya.gen.tr/tr/kars/ekonomi.html |publisher=Coğrafya Dünyası |title=Kars-Ekonomik Faaliyetler |language=tr |access-date=2013-04-07 }}</ref>

The climate limits the cultivation of plants in the region. In [[Kağızman]] and [[Tuzluca]], cotton, sugar beet, beans and vetches are grown. Vegetable gardening and orchards are not very developed. Wheat, barley, cotton and in small quantity tobacco are grown in the province.<ref name="cd"/>

Livestock breeding in the region is more important than agriculture. Grassland, meadows and the rich vegetation led to the development of livestock breeding. The grassland and meadows, which make out 70% of the area of Kars Province, are capable of providing at least ten times of the current livestock potential's breeding. Kars is the biggest cattle breeding province in Turkey, and is the center of livestock trade.<ref name="cd"/> Efforts are being made to increase goose breeding, which is very special to Kars region. Aside its meat taking a special place in the Kars cuisine, [[Foie gras|goose liver]] and [[down feather]] started already to be exported to [[Europe]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.siyasalbirikim.com.tr/artikel.php?artikel_id=1450 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130706141933/http://www.siyasalbirikim.com.tr/artikel.php?artikel_id=1450 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-07-06 |newspaper=Serhat'ın Sesi Siyasal Birikim |title=Kaz Kars, Ardahan ve Bölge için Bir Ekonomik Potansiyeldir |author=Küpeli, Mustafa |date=2011-12-11 |language=tr |access-date=2013-04-07 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.yeniumut.net/haber-155-KARSTAN-ALMANYAYA-KAZ-TUYU-IHRAC-EDILDI.html |newspaper=Yeni Umut Gazetesi |title=Kars'tan Almanya'ya Kaz Tüyü İhraç Edildi |language=tr |access-date=2013-04-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130328004730/http://www.yeniumut.net/haber-155-KARSTAN-ALMANYAYA-KAZ-TUYU-IHRAC-EDILDI.html |archive-date=2013-03-28 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Kars Province is not abundant with woods although the region is favorable for forests. Only 4% of the province area is covered with woods. [[Scots Pine]], [[spruce]] and [[alder]] are the tree species most found in the woods of Kars. Around {{convert|15000|m3|cuft|abbr=on}} timber is produced by logging in forestry.<ref name="cd"/>

Ore beds of rock salt, [[arsenic]], [[asbestos]], [[magnesite]], [[gypsum]] and [[perlite]] are explored, however, only rock salt is mined.<ref name="cd"/>

Main industrial plants in Kars are of meat processing, livestock feed processing, gristmill, yarn, tannery, footwear, cement and brick factories.<ref name="cd"/>

==Cuisine==
Among the most famous food products special to Kars region are Kars honey, [[Kasseri|Kars Kasseri]], [[Kasseri#Kars gravyer cheese|Kars Gruyère cheese]], which tastes like [[Switzerland|Swiss]] [[Emmental cheese]], and [[roasted goose#European|Kars style roasted goose]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/yazarlar/5811427.asp?m=1 |newspaper=[[Hürriyet]] Yazarlar |title=Kars'ta kaz kebabı ziyafeti |author=Yaşin, Mehmet |date=2007-01-21 |language=tr |access-date=2013-04-07 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tavsiyeediyorum.com/makale_1357.htm |publisher=Tavsiye Ediyorum |title=Kars Kazı, Kars Kars kaşarı , Kars Grevyeri, Kars Balı ve Bu Yöreye Özel Besinler |author=Taşdemir, Yüksel Turan |language=tr |access-date=2013-04-07 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://turkishcuisine.wordpress.com/2012/01/26/kars-usulu-kaz-kars-style-roasted-goose/ |publisher=Turkish cuisine |title=Kars usulu Kaz / Kars style roasted goose |date=26 January 2012 |access-date=2013-04-07 }}</ref>

==Monuments==
Kars contains numerous monuments, the most notable being the ruined [[Armenia]]n city of [[Ani]] and the 9th century Church of the Apostles.

==In popular culture==
Kars was the setting for the popular novel ''[[Snow (Pamuk novel)|Snow]]'' by [[Orhan Pamuk]].

''The Siege of Kars, 1855'' is a book published by The Stationery Office, 2000, and is an account of its defence and capitulation as reported by one General Williams, one of many British officers lent to the Turkish army to lead garrisons and train regiments in the war against Russia.

In the book, [[Zorba the Greek|Life and Times of Alexis Zorbas]] by [[Nikos Kazantzakis]], Zorbas talks about his visit to the Kars province in order to find work and where he also attended an extravagant wedding in Kars.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Fethiye_Mosque_-_Built_as_Barracks_for_Cossacks_in_Tribute_to_Alexander_Nevsky_-_Kars_-_Russia_-_01_(5814559997).jpg|[[Kars]] city center
Image:Ani 1.jpg|Ruins of [[Ani]]
Image:Sarikamish-Atatürk monument.JPG|[[Atatürk]] monument in [[Sarıkamış]]
Image:Ani - bridge.jpg|A ruined bridge in Ani
File:Kars_Airport.JPG|Kars Airport
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[List of populated places in Kars Province]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Kars (province) | volume= 15 |last= Bealby |first=John Thomas | pages = 682&ndash;683 |short=1}}
* {{in lang|tr}} [http://www.kars.gov.tr/ Kars governor's official website]
* {{in lang|tr}} [http://www.kars.bel.tr/ Kars municipality's official website]
* {{in lang|en}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20120106204132/http://www.kars.gov.tr/gezirehberi/En/english.html  The official city guide of the Kars municipality]
* {{in lang|tr}} [http://www.politikars.com/ Kars Daily News]
* {{in lang|en}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20110824140202/http://www.dmi.gov.tr/en-US/forecast-cities.aspx?m=KARS Kars weather forecast information]
* [http://www.pbase.com/dosseman/kars Pictures of the city of Kars and of nearby Ani]
* {{in lang|en}} [https://www.serka.gov.tr/en/bolgemiz/kars/ Serhat Development Agency information on Kars]

{{coord|40|27|17|N|43|03|37|E|region:TR-36_type:adm1st|display=title}}
{{Districts of Turkey|provname=Kars|image=Kars}}
{{Provinces of Turkey}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Kars Province| ]]
[[Category:Provinces of Turkey]]