Ağrı, Provincial capital in Eastern Anatolia, Turkey.
Ağrı is the provincial capital of Eastern Anatolia, situated in the valley of the Murat River at 1,640 meters elevation. The city sits close to the Iranian border and Mount Ararat, occupying a strategic location in the region.
The settlement was founded in 1860 when Armenian merchants from Bitlis established a town called Karakilise, later renamed Karaköse. The current name was adopted in 1946, marking a change in the city's identity.
The city is home to Kurdish and Turkish communities whose daily life revolves around farming and herding animals. Traditional practices shape local celebrations that mark the seasons of harvest and pastoral work.
The city serves as a major transportation hub connecting Turkey to Iran via highways and supporting regional trade. Visitors should prepare for the high elevation and cold winters, which affect travel conditions and planning.
The surrounding mountains and high elevation create harsh winter conditions where temperatures plunge to minus 16 degrees Celsius. These severe conditions produce extended snow cover that shapes daily life throughout the cold season.
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