Rize Province, Administrative division on the Black Sea coast, Turkey
Rize Province stretches along the southeastern Black Sea coast and includes steep mountain slopes, narrow valleys, and a thin coastal strip in northeastern Turkey. The terrain rises quickly from sea level to peaks in the Kaçkar range that reach over 3000 m (10,000 feet).
The area belonged to the Byzantine Empire until the mid-16th century, when it came under Ottoman rule and became part of the Lazistan sanjak. Tea production developed during the 19th century and fundamentally changed the economic life of the region.
The province maintains strong traditions of horon folk dancing, copper craftsmanship, and textile production, reflecting the heritage of Turkish, Laz, and Georgian communities.
The coastal road connects the main city of Rize to other Black Sea towns, while side roads lead into the mountains to smaller villages and tea estates. Rain falls frequently throughout the year here, so bring weather-resistant clothing and expect wet paths.
The region supplies nearly all Turkish black tea production from thousands of terraced gardens laid out on steep slopes. Many locals pick the tea leaves by hand and bring them to local factories where they are processed into the characteristic dark tea.
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