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Cihanbeyli
Cihanbeyli
Cihanbeyli
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Cihanbeyli is a municipality and district of Konya Province, Turkey.[3] Its area is 3,702 km2,[4] and its population is 50,677 (2022).[2] According to a 2017 estimate by the German Federal Agency for Civic Education, Kurds make up at least 50% of the population of Cihanbeyli.[5]

Key Information

History

[edit]

Cihanbeyli was part of Pitassa in antiquity.[6][7]

Composition

[edit]

There are 47 neighbourhoods in Cihanbeyli District:[8]

  • Ağabeyli
  • Ahirigüzel
  • Atçeken
  • Bahçelievler
  • Beyliova
  • Böğrüdelik
  • Bulduk
  • Büyükbeşkavak
  • Çimen
  • Çölyaylası
  • Cumhuriyet
  • Damlakuyu
  • Gemecik
  • Göktepe
  • Gölyazı
  • Günyüzü
  • Hodoğlu
  • İnsuyu
  • Kale
  • Kandil
  • Karabağ
  • Karatepe
  • Karşıyaka
  • Kayı
  • Kelhasan
  • Kırkışla
  • Kocatepe
  • Köprübaşı
  • Korkmazlar
  • Küçükbeşkavak
  • Kuşca
  • Kütükuşağı
  • Mutlukonak
  • Pınarbaşı
  • Sağlık
  • Sığırcık
  • Taşpınar
  • Tüfekçipınarı
  • Turanlar
  • Üzerliktepe
  • Uzuncayayla
  • Yapalı
  • Yeniceoba
  • Yeniyayla
  • Yeşilöz
  • Yünlükuyu
  • Zaferiye

Climate

[edit]

Cihanbeyli's climate is classified as cold semi-arid (Köppen: BSk).[9] The town experiences hot, dry summers and cold, snowy winters.[10]

Climate data for Cihanbeyli (1991–2020)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 4.5
(40.1) 		7.2
(45.0) 		12.7
(54.9) 		18.1
(64.6) 		23.5
(74.3) 		28.2
(82.8) 		32.0
(89.6) 		31.9
(89.4) 		27.4
(81.3) 		20.9
(69.6) 		12.6
(54.7) 		6.1
(43.0) 		18.8
(65.8)
Daily mean °C (°F) −0.2
(31.6) 		1.6
(34.9) 		6.1
(43.0) 		11.1
(52.0) 		16.1
(61.0) 		20.6
(69.1) 		24.2
(75.6) 		24.0
(75.2) 		19.3
(66.7) 		13.3
(55.9) 		6.1
(43.0) 		1.5
(34.7) 		12.0
(53.6)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −4.0
(24.8) 		−3.2
(26.2) 		0.2
(32.4) 		4.4
(39.9) 		8.9
(48.0) 		12.8
(55.0) 		15.8
(60.4) 		15.9
(60.6) 		11.4
(52.5) 		6.7
(44.1) 		0.8
(33.4) 		−2.1
(28.2) 		5.7
(42.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 31.49
(1.24) 		28.62
(1.13) 		34.46
(1.36) 		36.8
(1.45) 		34.19
(1.35) 		38.49
(1.52) 		7.41
(0.29) 		6.52
(0.26) 		14.28
(0.56) 		24.97
(0.98) 		29.05
(1.14) 		39.82
(1.57) 		326.1
(12.84)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 6.2 5.2 5.8 6.2 5.8 5.4 2.1 2.1 3.3 4.5 4.5 7.1 58.2
Average relative humidity (%) 80.2 74.0 64.9 60.3 56.6 50.3 41.3 42.0 46.0 58.5 71.7 80.8 60.5
Mean monthly sunshine hours 95.6 133.0 182.1 225.0 281.9 310.3 354.7 342.0 269.4 208.0 154.3 95.1 2,651.5
Source: NOAA[11]

Demography

[edit]

Cihanbeyli district has a significant Kurdish population from various Kurdish tribes.[12]

Name Ethnicity
Cihanbeyli Kurdish and others[13]
Beyliova Kurdish[12]
Böğrüdelik Siberian Tatar[14] and Kurdish
Bulduk Kurdish[13]
Büyükbeşkavak Kurdish[13]
Çimen Kurdish[13]
Çöl Kurdish[13]
Gölyazı Kurdish[13]
Günyüzü Kurdish[13]
Hodoğlu Turkish[15]
Kandil Kurdish[13]
Kelhasan Kurdish[13]
Kırkışla Kurdish[13]
Korkmazlar Kurdish[12]
Kuşça Kurdish[13]
Küçükbeşkavak Kurdish[13]
Kütükuşağı Kurdish[13]
Sağlık Kurdish[12]
Taşpınar Kurdish and Turkish[13][12]
Turanlar Kurdish[13]
Yapalı Kurdish[13]
Yeniceoba Kurdish[13]
Yeşildere Kurdish[12]
Yünlükuyu Kurdish[12]
Zaferiye Kurdish[13]

Notable people

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Cihanbeyli

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Cihanbeyli is a district and municipality in Konya Province, located in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey.
It spans an expansive area of approximately 3,700 km², features a population of 50,677 as of 2022, and maintains a low population density reflective of its rural character. Situated at an average elevation of 950–1,000 meters, the district is dominated by a cold semi-arid climate with hot, dry summers, cold and snowy winters, and annual precipitation around 322.5 mm. Administratively, it comprises 47 neighborhoods and serves as an agricultural hub within Konya, contributing to the province's broader economic landscape.

Etymology and history

Name origin

The name Cihanbeyli combines the term cihan, denoting "world" or "vast expanse" in Turkish (derived from Persian), with bey, signifying a lord or chieftain, and the suffix -li indicating association or location, collectively evoking a sense of a lord over a broad domain or great lord's settlement. Historically, the area bore earlier designations such as Esbikeşan, reflecting initial settlements possibly linked to nomadic groups using nearby caves, before transitioning to İnevi amid shifting populations and later adopting Cihanbeyli to honor the arriving Cihanbeyli tribe (also referenced as Cambeyli aşireti), whose leadership influenced the renaming under figures like Mürseli Efendi.

Historical background

Cihanbeyli's historical development is closely intertwined with that of Konya Province, forming part of the same geographical and social continuum without distinct natural barriers separating the regions. Early settlements in the area trace back to Neolithic times, with evidence of human habitation around Tuz Gölü and its environs, reflecting broader patterns of ancient Anatolian occupation. Remains of the Hittite civilization have been found in the village of Damlakuyu (Çorca). Evidence of Seljuk presence includes the Zıvarık Han, a 13th-century caravanserai located in what is now the Altınekin district, which was part of Cihanbeyli until its separation as a district in 1987. The region's initial known name was Esbikeşan, which later evolved to İnevi, indicating shifts in local nomenclature tied to settlement patterns; the Esbikeşan district changed its status from district to sub-district and back again many times. In 1866, Kulu Village became a district under the name Esbikeşan, with Cihanbeyli and Şerefli Koçhisar attached to it; however, the tribal chiefs of Cihanbeyli and Koçhisar resisted attachment to Kulu and pressured authorities in Ankara, leading to the abolition of Kulu's district organization, the separation of Cihanbeyli and Koçhisar, and the attachment of Kulu to the Sille sub-district of Konya. Subsequently, under the name İnevi, the area was attached to Koçhisar as a sub-district around the 1880s; after separating from Koçhisar, it was successively attached to Sille, Kadınhanı, and Hatırlı Village of Yunak (then a district), during which period settlements and population in İnevi increased. During the Ottoman period, Esbikeşan served as a key site for the sedentarization of nomadic tribes, including units of the Canbegli tribe, involving repeated relocations and administrative integrations such as connections to nearby districts like Kulu in the mid-19th century. These processes aligned with central Ottoman policies of tribal settlement, embedding the area within larger Anatolian historical dynamics. The Canbegli tribe settled in Böğrüdelik Village (also known as Reşadiye in early 20th-century contexts due to other settlements), which grew as a result of various migrations and administrative changes. Böğrüdelik became a district center in 1928, with Cihanbeyli (then known as the Mürseli Efendi sub-district) attached to it. The construction of the Konya-Ankara road in 1928 positioned Mürseli Efendi centrally along the route, where no other district existed at the time; this situation was regarded as disadvantageous for transportation, security, public administration, state service delivery, health, and defense, leading to the elevation of the Mürseli Efendi sub-district to district status in 1929. Böğrüdelik's district status was abolished, and the name was changed to Cihanbeyli due to its connection to the Canbegli tribe. Kulu Village, Altınekin, and Yeniceoba were attached to the newly established district, making it the largest in Konya Province by land area. Kulu separated from Cihanbeyli in 1954 and Altınekin in 1987, becoming independent districts.

Geography

Location and terrain

Cihanbeyli is a district located in Konya Province in central Turkey, positioned on the expansive Central Anatolian Plateau. The district covers a vast area, recognized as one of the largest counties in Turkey by land extent, with elevations generally ranging from 900 to 1,350 meters above sea level. Its central point sits at approximately 950 meters elevation. The terrain of Cihanbeyli is characterized by predominantly flat to gently undulating plains, ideal for agricultural use, interspersed with erosional features such as fairy chimneys formed in Miocene sediments. The district borders Lake Tuz, Turkey's second-largest salt lake, which influences the local landscape with its saline flats and contributes to the semi-arid environmental setting.

Climate

Cihanbeyli features a climate characterized by hot, dry summers and cold, snowy winters, with average temperatures varying from lows of about -4°C (-4°F) in the coldest months to highs of around 30°C (86°F) during summer peaks. Winters, spanning late November to early March, see average highs between 4°C and 9°C (39°F to 48°F) and lows from -4°C to 1°C (25°F to 34°F), often accompanied by snowfall averaging up to 5.6 cm (2.2 inches) in January. Precipitation is low, totaling approximately 310 mm (12.2 inches) annually, qualifying the region as semi-arid, with the majority falling during a prolonged wetter period from late September to late June. The driest months, July and August, receive less than 5 mm (0.2 inches) each, while spring and fall see higher amounts, up to 25 mm (1 inch) monthly. This pattern supports limited vegetation and influences local agriculture, with minimal humidity discomfort year-round (0% muggy days). Seasonal wind patterns add to variability, with stronger gusts averaging 14 km/h (8.9 mph) in February, predominantly from the south in winter shifting to northwesterly in spring. The district's high elevation exacerbates winter cold, fostering occasional frost and clearer skies from late May to early October contrasted by cloudier conditions the rest of the year.

Demographics

Population statistics

As of 2022, Cihanbeyli's population stood at 50,677, according to estimates derived from Turkey's Address-Based Population Registration System. This figure reflects a slight annual decline of about 0.72% from 2017 to 2022, indicating modest depopulation trends amid broader rural dynamics in central Anatolia. The district's population density measures 13.69 inhabitants per square kilometer, underscoring its sparse settlement pattern across expansive terrain. In comparison, Konya Province averages around 60 persons per square kilometer, highlighting Cihanbeyli's lower density relative to provincial norms.

Ethnic composition

Cihanbeyli's ethnic composition reflects a blend of groups shaped by historical migrations, including a substantial Kurdish population alongside Turks and Siberian Tatars. Kurds, who have engaged in tribal interactions and migrations within central Anatolia, form a key demographic element, with estimates indicating they comprise at least 50% of the district's residents as of 2017. Siberian Tatars maintain a distinct presence, particularly in the Böğrüdelik neighborhood, where communities trace their origins to migrations from Siberia centuries ago, fleeing Russian pressures and preserving cultural elements like music and language. Turkish populations contribute to the overall diversity, resulting from longstanding regional settlements.

Administration

Governance

Cihanbeyli functions as both a municipality and a district within Konya Province, Turkey, where administrative responsibilities are divided between appointed and elected officials. The district governor, or kaymakam, appointed by the central government, oversees broader administrative and security functions, with Fatih Uzun currently serving in this role. In parallel, the municipality operates under an elected mayor and council, focusing on local services such as urban planning and public utilities; Dr. Fırat Kızılkaya holds the position of belediye başkanı. Municipal leadership is determined through periodic local elections, aligning with Turkey's decentralized governance model for districts.

Neighborhoods

Cihanbeyli district is administratively subdivided into 47 neighborhoods, serving as the primary local units under municipal oversight. These encompass a mix of central urban areas and predominantly rural settlements spread across the district's vast expanse, reflecting its semi-arid steppe landscape and agricultural focus. Notable examples include the central Bahçelievler Mahallesi and Cumhuriyet Mahallesi, which form the urban core, alongside rural ones such as and Taşpınar Mahallesi, many of which originated as villages before being reclassified in administrative reforms.

Economy

Agriculture

Agriculture serves as the cornerstone of Cihanbeyli's economy, with extensive dryland farming dominating land use in this cold semi-arid region. Crops such as wheat, barley, and sugar beet predominate, thriving under rain-fed conditions despite limited precipitation and drought risks inherent to the local climate. Land consolidation initiatives have been implemented to mitigate fragmentation, a key structural barrier to efficient production, by merging scattered parcels into larger, contiguous units suitable for mechanized operations. A producer-perspective study indicates these efforts enhance enterprise viability, improving land utilization and operational productivity while addressing longstanding inefficiencies in farming practices.

Other sectors

The district's non-agricultural economy is limited, with salt production emerging as a key industrial activity derived from the expansive Tuz Gölü (Salt Lake), which accounts for approximately 70% of Turkey's salt output. Local enterprises, such as Cihanbeyli Mining, extract and process raw salt at sites like Yavşan Saltworks, supporting sectors including food processing, road de-icing, and drilling additives. Trade and services remain underdeveloped, constrained by the district's low population density and scattered settlements, which hinder the formation of robust commercial networks or service-based enterprises. Efforts to address these obstacles focus on , but diversification beyond primary sectors like mining has been slow.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Cihanbeyli's primary transportation infrastructure consists of road networks, with the district situated along the D300 state highway connecting Konya and Ankara, facilitating access to the provincial capital approximately 87 km northwest. All intercity and local travel occurs via this highway, supporting vehicular movement without dedicated rail lines. Public bus services provide regular connectivity to Konya, operated by companies such as Metro Turizm, with journeys typically lasting 1 to 1.5 hours and fares starting around ₺300–500. These routes depart from Cihanbeyli's bus terminal, integrating with Konya's broader intercity network for onward travel. Local district buses under the ATUS system also link rural areas to the town center, though options remain limited compared to urban hubs.

Environmental challenges

Cihanbeyli faces significant threats from sinkholes, which have proliferated across the Konya Plain due to groundwater depletion and drought, with formations reported in the district alongside neighboring areas like Karapınar. Nearly 700 such sinkholes have emerged in the broader region, endangering agricultural fields and residential zones through sudden collapses often exceeding 50 meters in depth. These geological hazards reflect intensified karst activity in the area's carbonate bedrock, exacerbated by excessive irrigation and reduced precipitation. Arid land degradation compounds these issues, driven by prolonged drought, soil erosion, and overexploitation of aquifers in the semi-arid landscape. This has led to declining groundwater levels and diminished soil fertility, particularly affecting dryland farming practices dominant in Cihanbeyli. Climate-induced pressures have also spurred migration patterns, with rural residents increasingly relocating due to unsustainable agricultural viability from water scarcity and rising production costs.

Notable people

Eyüp Can

Eyüp Can is a retired Turkish boxer born on August 3, 1964, in Pınarbaşı village, Cihanbeyli district of Konya Province.) He competed in the flyweight division and represented Turkey internationally, securing a bronze medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles after losing in the semifinals to the eventual gold medalist. This achievement marked one of the earliest Olympic boxing medals for Turkey. Can further distinguished himself by winning another flyweight bronze at the 1986 World Amateur Boxing Championships in Reno, Nevada. Transitioning to professional boxing from 1986 to 1992, he fought in 16 bouts, accumulating experience in the ring without recorded knockouts. His successes highlight Cihanbeyli's contribution to Turkish sports talent in the amateur era.

Leyla Güven

Leyla Güven is a Kurdish politician born in Cihanbeyli, Konya Province, who has represented the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) in Turkish politics. She began her political career as mayor of Viranşehir district in Şanlıurfa Province in 2009, focusing on local governance and community advocacy before her arrest later that year on charges related to political activities. Elected to the Turkish Grand National Assembly as an HDP MP for Hakkari in the 2015 general election, Güven continued her parliamentary role after re-election in 2018, serving as co-chair of the Democratic Society Congress (DTK), an umbrella organization for civil society groups in the Kurdish region. Her activism has centered on Kurdish rights, including protests against government policies perceived as restrictive toward Kurdish communities. In November 2018, Güven initiated a high-profile indefinite hunger strike from prison, demanding an end to the isolation of imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, which inspired similar actions by hundreds of others and drew international attention to conditions for political prisoners in Turkey; she ended the strike after 200 days following partial concessions. In December 2020, a Turkish court sentenced her to 22 years in prison for alleged membership in the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), designated a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union, resulting in her removal from parliament.

References

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  2. https://www.konyadayatirim.gov.tr/assets/upload/dosyalar/cihanbeyli.pdf
  3. https://www.konyapedia.com/makale/1275/cihanbeyli
  4. https://www.nufusune.com/cihanbeyli-ilce-nufusu-konya
  5. https://konyaimza.com/ilceler/cihanbeyli-ismi-nereden-geliyor-konyanin-ucsuz-bucaksiz-ovasinin-tarihi-sirri-33535h
  6. https://lastnames.myheritage.com/last-name/cihanbeyli
  7. https://www.cihanbeyli.gov.tr/tarihce
  8. https://www.konyayenigun.com/konya-cihanbeyli-ismi-nereden-gelmektedir
  9. https://www.cihanbeyli.bel.tr/chbbld/yeni/cihanbeyli_Tarihce.asp
  10. https://www.konyapedia.com/makale/1276/cihanbeyli
  11. http://www.turkishhan.org/zivarik.htm
  12. https://www.turkiyeroutes.com/district/cihanbeyli
  13. https://www.konyayenigun.com/cihanbeylide-sonucu-kestirmek-guc
  14. https://tescihanbeyli.tripod.com/tarih.htm
  15. https://brill.com/view/book/edcoll/9789004466982/BP000016.xml?srsltid=AfmBOopJkyKTbDNS-ZVr77hleUuIZUlN13h2Bc3q_vFWHAiZjwOE8JiI
  16. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00263200600601171
  17. https://en-in.topographic-map.com/map-rrwgcz/Cihanbeyli/
  18. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12665-016-5558-9
  19. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/301708494_AHP_and_GIS_based_land_suitability_analysis_for_Cihanbeyli_Turkey_County
  20. https://bw.maptons.com/2329490
  21. https://www.thekonyanews.com/en/travel/detay/the-geography-of-konya-mountains-plains-and-lakes-4084
  22. https://www.facebook.com/progeo.geoheritage/posts/ku%C5%9F%C3%A7a-fairy-chimneys-cihanbeyli-konya-t%C3%BCrkiyethe-ku%C5%9F%C3%A7a-fairy-chimneys-are-remark/900683599025884/
  23. https://www.cihanbeylituz.com.tr/EN/tuz-lake
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  26. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1369183X.2025.2556700
  27. https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/1508504
  28. https://www.cihanbeyli.gov.tr/
  29. https://www.cihanbeyli.bel.tr/
  30. https://www.cihanbeyli.gov.tr/kaymakam-fatih-uzun
  31. https://www.cihanbeyli.bel.tr/chbbld/yeni/baskanini_biyografisi.asp
  32. https://www.endeksa.com/en/analysis/turkiye/konya/cihanbeyli/elections
  33. https://www.sehirlerarasimesafe.com/sehirler/konya/cihanbeyli
  34. https://www.cihanbeyli.bel.tr/chbbld/yeni/mahallelerimiz.asp
  35. https://www.nufusune.com/cihanbeyli-mahalleleri-koyleri-konya
  36. https://ideas.repec.org/p/wiw/wiwrsa/ersa14p1268.html
  37. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/382442978_EFFECTS_OF_LAND_CONSOLIDATION_ON_AGRICULTURAL_ENTERPRISES_IN_CIHANBEYLI_DISTRICT_TURKIYE_AN_EVALUATION_FROM_THE_PRODUCER_PERSPECTIVE
  38. https://www.dailysabah.com/turkiye/turkiyes-tuz-lake-exports-salt-to-over-50-countries-worldwide/news
  39. https://www.barerholding.com/cihanbeylimining.php
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  43. https://www.busbud.com/en-ca/bus-cihanbeyli-konya/r/swz7vj-swxp7n
  44. https://atus.konya.bel.tr/atus/district-transportation
  45. https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/hundreds-of-sinkholes-plague-turkiyes-konya-plain/news
  46. https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/09/06/surge-in-sinkholes-in-turkeys-granary-endangers-agriculture
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  49. https://open.metu.edu.tr/handle/11511/116586
  50. https://boxrec.com/wiki/index.php/Ey%C3%BCp_Can
  51. https://www.dailysabah.com/sports/turkish-boxers-to-step-into-ring-with-full-house-at-paris-2024/news
  52. https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/30929
  53. https://olympedia.org/athletes/8397
  54. https://www.equaltimes.org/leyla-guven-s-last-resort-for
  55. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-55407129
  56. https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/author/leyla-guven/
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