Balıkesir

Balıkesir sits on flat farmland between the Sea of Marmara and the Aegean coast, connecting modern outer neighborhoods with an older center on a gentle rise. Wide avenues run through the newer districts with apartment blocks, shops, and parks, while narrow lanes define the elevated historic quarter.

Emperor Hadrian founded a settlement here in 124 AD called Hadrianutherae, which passed through Byzantine hands before Turkish control arrived. The Ottomans incorporated the town fully in the 13th century and developed it into a regional trading hub.

The name derives from the Turkish word for "fish place", and locals still bring fresh catches from nearby coastal towns to the morning markets.

The train station links travelers to Izmir and Ankara, and Koca Seyit Airport sits about 15 kilometers south of downtown. Local minibuses run frequently between different neighborhoods, and taxis wait at main squares.

Beneath the plains lie deposits of iron, zinc, chromium, and boracite that have been mined for decades. At the same time, olive groves, cotton fields, and tobacco plantations spread around the outskirts, shaping the economy of the surrounding countryside.