Balıkesir

Area: 14.292 km²

Population: 1.076.347 (2000)

Traffic Code: 10

Balıkesir has shores that clean sea water reach’s the sanded beaches, and those shores surrounded by green olive trees. Ayvalık, Burhaniye, Ören, Edremit, Akçay and Altınoluk are attractive holiday place for whom want to rest in enjoyable environment or whom interested by archeological places.

Districts: Balıkesir (center), Ayvalık, Balya, Bandırma, Bigadiç, Burhaniye, Dursunbey, Edremit, Erdek, Gömeç, Gönen, Havran, İvrindi, Kepsut, Manyas, Marmara, Savaştepe, Sındırgı, Susurluk.

Road: Arrival by roadway opportunity is possible every places of Türkiye.

Coach station Tel : (+90-266) 241 11 99

Railway: Railway arrival is possible between Ankara - Balıkesir, İzmir - Balıkesir and Balıkesir - Bandırma.

Train Station Tel : (+90-266) 713 60 89 - 715 30 50

Seaway: There are voyages between İstanbul and Bandırma by ferryboat and boat.

Airway: By the opening to service of Körfez Airport, arrival from İstanbul to Ayvalık, Burhaniye and Edremit counties is possible.

Airport Tel : (+90-266) 312 11 30

Kuvayı Milliye Museum: It is in the old town hole. Balıkesir is a frontier province for development of Kuvayı Milliye, written decisions of 41 vanguard representatives, 5 main decision of congress, private items of these heroes, their photographs, and some photographs of Atatürk which taken when he arrived in to Baklıkesir province. The archeological findings and ethnographic creations are exhibited on the second floor.

Museum Tel : (+90-266) 243 31 81

Open days to visit : Everyday except Monday

Moreover, there are Erdemit city museum and Erdek open air museum present at the Balıkesir province.

Preserved Areas
Kuşcenneti National Parks

Kazdağı National Parks

Ayvalık Adaları Nature Parks

Gürgen Mountain Nature Protection Area

Watch Tower: It is in the city center, on the Anafartalar avenue adjacent to old Town hall. It was built by Governer of Silistre, Giridizade Mehmet Pasha, resembling to Galata Tower 1827. Destroyed in 1897 earthquake and restored by Mutasarrıf Ömer Ali bey, and take today’s formation .

Sporting Activities
Nature Tracking

Alaçam Mountains: It is at the east of province. Lie towards east to west. The highest hill is Tilki Hill with 1625 meters.

Madra Mountains: It split the Aegean and Marmara seas from each other. This mountain is at the south west of province and lie towards north east. Highest hill is 1338 meter height.

Kaz Mountains: It is at the west of provinces borders and north of the Edremit Bay. Mountains name mentioned as İda in mythology and lie towards to west, height reach’s to 1767 meter.

Çatal Mountain: The mountains has two big slangs that lies on the east side, towards to the district of Susurluk. It is belong to Orhaneli mountain group with 1336 meters of heigth.

Kapidag: It is a peninsula take places in between the gulf of Bandirma and Erdek. The height is up to 200 meters. It takes place from very steepy slopes, covered on by maquis that reaches until to the sea.

Diving sport : Especially small bays at Ayvalık shore are suitable for diving in Balıkesir province.

Thermal Resorts
Gönen Thermal Spring : The springs in Gönen county are very historic. Thermal spring operated at the times of Egyptians, Romans and Byzantine. Items about ancient thermal institutions that founded during the excavation processes in region are exhibits at Gönen open air museum.

Gönen Thermal Spring

The province is rich by the means of thermal springs. Gönen Thermal Spring is the most important thermal spring of Balıkesir. Pamukçu Thermal Spring, Gönen - Dağ Ilıcası (Ekşidere Gençlik Mineral water), Edremit - Güre Thermal Spring, Edremit - Derman Thermal Spring, Balya-Ilıca Thermal Spring, Bigadiç - Hisarköy Thermal Spring, Sındırgı - Hisaralan Thermal Spring, Sındırgı - Emendere Thermal Spring, Susurluk - Kepekler Thermal Spring, Susurluk - Acıca Mineral water, Manyas - Kızıkköy Thermal Spring and Gömeç-Karaağaç Thermal Spring other springs of province.

At province generally the Mediterranean climate is dominant, however characteristic properties of this climate seems only at shore of the Aegean sea. Insider territories are under the effect of terrestrial climate.

It is estimated that Balıkesir and surroundings are settlement place since Prehistoric Age BC. 3200. Pelasg’s nation that coming from the Balkans are formed colonies at the years of BC. 2000. Balıkesir lived at the periods of Frig, Lydia, Persian, Macedonian, Bergama Kingdom, Rome and Byzantine.

After the Malazgirt battle (1071) Karesi Bey who was son of a Seljuklian governor Kalem Şah Bey, conquered and formed Karesi Governmental and make Balıkesir capitol but he accepted Ottoman Dominance. Balıkesir proclaimed the status of province in 1923. Province old name Karesi changed to Balıkesir in 1926 .

Höşmerim cookies and Susurluk ayran (a drink with yogurt) are famous at province.