Population: about 1.2 million
History: Initial settlements can be traced back to the 5th century B.C. Characteristic of the course of history, the current big city on the Turkish coast of the Black Sea was levelled several times, e.g. during the 35 years of the ware for Samsun that began in 1425, in 1806 following a revolt against the Sultan and in 1859 by a devastating blaze. The urban history rich in destruction explains why today Samsun appears unadorned and functional. The city works perfectly as a transport hub. No other city on the Black Sea offers better connections to the rest of Turkey.
Landmarks:
- Samsun offers the largest statue of Atatürk in Turkey. The statue of a rider towers over the green spaces on the Cumhuriyet Meydani.
- Also a landmark is the Pazar Mosque from the 14th century which has since been surrounded by many concrete structures.
- The bazaar rings around the mosque are always worth an excursion.
- In November 2005, the deepest undersea pipeline in the world was commissioned in Samsun. The unrivalled structure, not a landmark really since there is nothing to see, runs two kilometres under the surface of the sea and supplies Turkey and Russia with gas.
What is special? Samsun primarily lives by industry and trade. The surrounding countryside of the largest business metropolis of the region distinguishes itself by its fertility. Grains, hazelnuts, maize and even tobacco thrive.
Telephone prefix: 0362
Airport: Samsun Airport (15 km east of the city) 
| 
