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Bitlis Province
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<h2 id="demographics">Demographics</h2> Historical population<table><tbody><tr><th>Year</th><th>Pop.</th><th>±% p.a.</th></tr><tr><th>1927</th><td>90,631</td><td>— </td></tr><tr><th>1940</th><td>68,825</td><td>−2.09%</td></tr><tr><th>1950</th><td>88,634</td><td>+2.56%</td></tr><tr><th>1960</th><td>128,966</td><td>+3.82%</td></tr><tr><th>1970</th><td>185,473</td><td>+3.70%</td></tr><tr><th>1980</th><td>257,908</td><td>+3.35%</td></tr><tr><th>1990</th><td>330,115</td><td>+2.50%</td></tr><tr><th>2000</th><td>388,678</td><td>+1.65%</td></tr><tr><th>2010</th><td>328,767</td><td>−1.66%</td></tr><tr><th>2020</th><td>350,994</td><td>+0.66%</td></tr><tr><td colspan="3">Source:Turkstat<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a></td></tr></tbody></table> <h2 id="history">History</h2> <p>The province was part of <a href="/facts/Moxoene/hn6Xcmv9">Moxoene</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a> of the <a href="/facts/Kingdom_of_Armenia_(antiquity)/7L4XUMzG">Kingdom of Armenia</a>. Before the <a href="/facts/Armenian_genocide/n4qY58hs">Armenian genocide</a>, the area was part of the <a href="/facts/Six_vilayets/9yn4Coho">Six Armenian Vilayets</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a> </p><p>The administrative center was the town of <a href="/facts/Bitlis/mfK1Rz1v">Bitlis</a> which was called Bagesh, in old Armenian sources.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15"><sup>15</sup></a> </p><p>In 1927 the office of the <a href="/facts/Inspector_general/LSumdtLC">Inspector General</a> was created, which governed with martial law.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16"><sup>16</sup></a> The Bitlis province was included in the first <a href="/facts/Inspectorates-General_(Turkey)/pUXEpacp">Inspectorate General</a> (<i>Umumi Müfettişlik,</i> UM) over which the Inspector General ruled. The UM span over the provinces of <a href="/facts/Hakk%25C3%25A2ri_Province/vSDPwkzx">Hakkâri</a>, <a href="/facts/Siirt_Province/U5FPHp4e">Siirt</a>, <a href="/facts/Van_Province/uLGbfnDT">Van</a>, <a href="/facts/Mardin_Province/2kev8y7g">Mardin</a>, Bitlis, <a href="/facts/%25C5%259Eanl%25C4%25B1urfa_Province/wRSyv8TP">Sanlıurfa</a>, <a href="/facts/Elaz%25C4%25B1%25C4%259F_Province/gKMhenWo">Elaziğ</a> and <a href="/facts/Diyarbak%25C4%25B1r_Province/pcQjAucJ">Diyarbakır</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17"><sup>17</sup></a> The Inspectorate General was dissolved in 1952 during the Government of the <a href="/facts/Democrat_Party_(Turkey%2c_1946%25E2%2580%259361)/q2qvvwcF">Democrat Party</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18"><sup>18</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="tourism">Tourism</h2> <p>The main places with tourism potential in Bitlis are <a href="/facts/Lake_Nemrut/2L6u95SM">Lake Nemrut</a>, <a href="/facts/The_Tombstones_of_Ahlat_the_Urartian_and_Ottoman_citadel/yvCMz0Rn">Ahlat Seljuk Cemetery</a>, Ahlat Museum, <a href="/facts/Mount_S%25C3%25BCphan/TlKYoSbJ">Mount Süphan</a>, Güroymak Hot Springs and <a href="/facts/Lake_Nazik/UlhoaIAw">Lake Nazik</a>. </p> <h2 id="districts">Districts</h2> <p>Bitlis Province is divided into 7 <a href="/facts/Districts_of_Turkey/0uHLISgR">districts</a> (the capital district is in bold): </p> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Adilcevaz_District/nY2G1lVN">Adilcevaz</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Ahlat_District/r5Gq1NDF">Ahlat</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Bitlis_District/gpBbkDtA">Bitlis</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/G%25C3%25BCroymak_District/fC3N0rox">Güroymak</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Hizan_District/NUtzaAfb">Hizan</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Mutki_District/Ljmv9gye">Mutki</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Tatvan_District/YRtraWR4">Tatvan</a></li></ul> <h2 id="geology-and-geomorphology">Geology and geomorphology</h2> <p>The main lakes in Bitlis province are <a href="/facts/Lake_Arin/fVENCnHM">Lake Sodalı</a>, <a href="/facts/Lake_Nemrut/2L6u95SM">Lake Nemrut</a>, <a href="/facts/Lake_Ayg%25C4%25B1r/kcT7GKAk">Lake Aygır</a>, <a href="/facts/Lake_Batm%25C4%25B1%25C5%259F/QecPduxd">Lake Batmış</a> and <a href="/facts/Lake_Nazik/UlhoaIAw">Lake Nazik</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:19" href="#fn:19"><sup>19</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="economy">Economy</h2> <p>As of 1920, the province was producing small amounts of <a href="/facts/Iron/QK1JYy8E">iron</a>, <a href="/facts/Copper/I8PEE8oX">copper</a>, <a href="/facts/Lead/EYljasJN">lead</a>, and <a href="/facts/Sulphur/IK0amTfM">sulphur</a>. Even smaller amounts of <a href="/facts/Gold/1znknojp">gold</a> and <a href="/facts/Silver/xXe41BGg">silver</a> were found in the areas of Sairt and Khairwan. <a href="/facts/Salt/SCplalQ3">Salt</a> made up the largest mineral industry in the province, so much that it was exported to surrounding provinces. The salt was produced in pans, using <a href="/facts/Evaporation/tgvIlJys">evaporation</a>, and taking 8 to 10 days to mature. The technique and trade was mainly run by local <a href="/facts/Kurds/kV90PCdW">Kurds</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:20" href="#fn:20"><sup>20</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="attractions">Attractions</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Nemrut_(volcano)/J8mIw50r">Nemrut (volcano)</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Lake_Nemrut/2L6u95SM">Lake Nemrut</a></li></ul> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bitlis Province. <ul><li><a href="http://www.pbase.com/dosseman/bitlis_siirt">Pictures of the city of Bitlis, the capital of Bitlis province - and of nearby Siirt</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081207190007/http://www.turkeyforecast.com/weather/bitlis/">Bitlis Weather Forecast Information</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.armeniapedia.org/index.php?title=Bitlis">The Armenian History and Presence in Bitlis</a></li></ul> <p><a href="https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Bitlis_Province¶ms=38_23_13_N_42_07_00_E_region:TR-13_type:adm1st">38°23′13″N 42°07′00″E / 38.38694°N 42.11667°E / 38.38694; 42.11667</a> </p> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Hakobyan, Tadevos (1987). Պատմական Հայաստանի քաղաքները [Cities of historic Armenia] (in Armenian). Yerevan: "Hayastan" Publishing. p. 98. <a href="Պատմական Հայաստանի քաղաքները" target="_blank">Պատմական Հայաստանի քաղաքները</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>"Li Bidlîsê qedexeya derketina derve". Rûadw (in Kurdish). 19 March 2019. Retrieved 27 April 2020. <a href="https://www.rudaw.net/kurmanci/kurdistan/190320191" target="_blank">https://www.rudaw.net/kurmanci/kurdistan/190320191</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>"İl ve İlçe Yüz ölçümleri". General Directorate of Mapping. Retrieved 19 September 2023. <a href="https://www.harita.gov.tr/uploads/files-folder/il_ilce_alanlari.xlsx" target="_blank">https://www.harita.gov.tr/uploads/files-folder/il_ilce_alanlari.xlsx</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>"Address-based population registration system (ADNKS) results dated 31 December 2022, Favorite Reports" (XLS). TÜİK. Retrieved 19 September 2023. <a href="https://biruni.tuik.gov.tr/medas/?kn=95&locale=en" target="_blank">https://biruni.tuik.gov.tr/medas/?kn=95&locale=en</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>Myhill, John (2006). Language, Religion and National Identity in Europe and the Middle East: A historical study. Amsterdam: J. Benjamins. p. 32. ISBN 978-90-272-9351-0. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>Watts, Nicole F. (2010). Activists in Office: Kurdish Politics and Protest in Turkey (Studies in Modernity and National Identity). Seattle: University of Washington Press. p. 167. ISBN 978-0-295-99050-7. <a href="978-0-295-99050-7" target="_blank">978-0-295-99050-7</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>"Kurds, Kurdistān". Encyclopaedia of Islam (2 ed.). BRILL. 2002. ISBN 978-90-04-16121-4. <a href="978-90-04-16121-4" target="_blank">978-90-04-16121-4</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>"Yöneticilerimiz". Bitlis Valiliği. Retrieved 24 October 2023. <a href="http://www.bitlis.gov.tr/yoneticilerimiz" target="_blank">http://www.bitlis.gov.tr/yoneticilerimiz</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>Genel Nüfus Sayımları <a href="https://biruni.tuik.gov.tr/nufusmenuapp/menu.zul" target="_blank">https://biruni.tuik.gov.tr/nufusmenuapp/menu.zul</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>Turkstat <a href="https://kutuphane.tuik.gov.tr/yordambt/yordam.php" target="_blank">https://kutuphane.tuik.gov.tr/yordambt/yordam.php</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>"The Results of Address Based Population Registration System, 2020". Turkish Statistical Institute. Archived from the original on 2021-10-28. Retrieved 7 December 2021. <a href="https://data.tuik.gov.tr/Bulten/Index?p=Adrese-Dayali-Nufus-Kayit-Sistemi-Sonuclari-2020-37210" target="_blank">https://data.tuik.gov.tr/Bulten/Index?p=Adrese-Dayali-Nufus-Kayit-Sistemi-Sonuclari-2020-37210</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>Discoveries Among the Ruins of Nineveh and Babylon - Page 358 by Sir Austen Henry Layard, Austin Henry Layard <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>İsmail Soysal, Türkiye'nin Siyasal Andlaşmaları, I. Cilt (1920-1945), Türk Tarih Kurumu, 1983, p. 14. <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:14"><p>Verheij, Jelle (2012). Jongerden, Joost; Verheij, Jelle (eds.). Social Relations in Ottoman Diyarbekir, 1870–1915. Brill. p. 88. ISBN 978-90-04-22518-3 <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:15"><p>Britannica: Bitlis <a href="https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/67211/Bitlis" target="_blank">https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/67211/Bitlis</a> <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:16"><p>Jongerden, Joost (2007-01-01). The Settlement Issue in Turkey and the Kurds: An Analysis of Spatical Policies, Modernity and War. BRILL. pp. 53. ISBN 978-90-04-15557-2. <a href="978-90-04-15557-2" target="_blank">978-90-04-15557-2</a> <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:17"><p>Bayir, Derya (2016-04-22). Minorities and Nationalism in Turkish Law. Routledge. p. 139. ISBN 978-1-317-09579-8. <a href="978-1-317-09579-8" target="_blank">978-1-317-09579-8</a> <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:18"><p>Fleet, Kate; Kunt, I. Metin; Kasaba, Reşat; Faroqhi, Suraiya (2008-04-17). The Cambridge History of Turkey. Cambridge University Press. p. 343. ISBN 978-0-521-62096-3. <a href="978-0-521-62096-3" target="_blank">978-0-521-62096-3</a> <a href="#fnref:18" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:19"><p>"Bitlis'te yıldızların göllerle bütünleşmesi doğaseverleri mest ediyor". trthaber.com. TRT Haber. 3 November 2023. p. 1. <a href="https://www.trthaber.com/foto-galeri/bitliste-yildizlarin-gollerle-butunlesmesi-dogaseverleri-mest-ediyor/60598/sayfa-1.html" target="_blank">https://www.trthaber.com/foto-galeri/bitliste-yildizlarin-gollerle-butunlesmesi-dogaseverleri-mest-ediyor/60598/sayfa-1.html</a> <a href="#fnref:19" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:20"><p>Prothero, W.G. (1920). Armenia and Kurdistan. London: H.M. Stationery Office. p. 71. <a href="http://www.wdl.org/en/item/11768/view/1/71/" target="_blank">http://www.wdl.org/en/item/11768/view/1/71/</a> <a href="#fnref:20" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>