Kocaeli Province, Administrative province in northwestern Turkey
Kocaeli Province is an administrative region in northwestern Turkey, located between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara, with Izmit as its center. The province consists of twelve districts spread across a coastline and rolling interior, where industrial zones sit alongside residential neighborhoods and smaller towns.
The area passed from Byzantine control to the Ottoman Empire in the 14th century and became an important trade and defense point on the strait. After the foundation of the modern Turkish republic, the region developed into an industrial center.
The name Kocaeli comes from a Turkish principality that once ruled this area, and locals often use the older name Izmit for the capital city. In the neighborhoods around the bay and along the coast, you see teahouses next to modern cafes, where workers from nearby factories gather after their shifts.
The province sits on major transport routes between Istanbul and Ankara, so many travelers pass through on their way elsewhere. Visitors who explore the coastal towns find small beaches and fish restaurants, while the inland areas are less oriented toward tourism.
In this province, the capital carries a different name from the administrative unit itself, a rarity in Turkey. The area also sits on two continents, with a small portion east of the Bosporus in Asia, while the main part lies in Europe.
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