Payas, Administrative division in Hatay Province, Turkey
Payas is an administrative division in Hatay Province that stretches along the Mediterranean coast. The area mixes port facilities, residential neighborhoods, and commercial zones into a working landscape shaped by its coastal location.
The region passed through Byzantine, Seljuk, and other rulers before joining the Ottoman Empire in 1517 under Sultan Selim I. This long history of shifting control left marks on the area's settlement patterns and how communities organized themselves.
The district blends Turkish administrative traditions with Mediterranean ways of living, visible in how residents organize their neighborhoods and daily routines. This combination shapes the local character and how communities interact with each other.
The area sits along major transportation routes that link to nearby cities and ports. Visitors can easily reach the coastline and access main roads connecting to other regional centers.
After a major steel and iron factory was built in the 1970s, the region transformed from an agricultural area into an important industrial center. This shift fundamentally changed the local economy and landscape.
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