Şile is a municipality and district of Istanbul Province, Turkey.[2] Its area is 800 km2,[3] and its population is 43,464 (2022).[1] Bordering Şile is the province of Kocaeli (districts of Gebze, Körfez, Derince, Kandıra) to the east and south, and Istanbul districts of Pendik to the south, Çekmeköy to the southwest, and Beykoz to the west.[4] The popular resort town Ağva is also a part of Şile. However, between June and September, the population rapidly increases because of the many residents of Istanbul who have summer houses in Şile.

Şile
Şile castle while it was under restoration
Şile castle while it was under restoration
Map showing Şile District in Istanbul Province
Map showing Şile District in Istanbul Province
Şile is located in Turkey
Şile
Şile
Location in Turkey
Şile is located in Istanbul
Şile
Şile
Şile (Istanbul)
Coordinates: 41°10′35″N 29°36′46″E / 41.17639°N 29.61278°E / 41.17639; 29.61278
CountryTurkey
ProvinceIstanbul
Government
 • Mayorİlhan Ocaklı (AKP)
Area
800 km2 (300 sq mi)
Population
 (2022)[1]
43,464
 • Density54/km2 (140/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+3 (TRT)
Postal code
34980
Area code0216
Websitewww.sile.bel.tr
Şile Castle is a restored castle in the Şile district on Ocaklı Island

History edit

The word şile means marjoram in Turkish.[5] The word's etymology is said to be Greek.[6] There has been a fishing village here since 700 BC and a lighthouse since the Ottoman period. According to the Ottoman General Census of 1881/82-1893, the kaza of Şile had a total population of 16.770, consisting of 10.314 Muslims, 6.447 Greeks, 3 Armenians and 6 foreign citizens.[7] The boundaries of Şile were expanded by the addition of the village of Esenceli from Beykoz district in 1989.[8]

Composition edit

There are 62 neighbourhoods in Şile District:[9]

  • Ağaçdere
  • Ağva Merkez
  • Ahmetli
  • Akçakese
  • Alacalı
  • Avcıkoru
  • Balibey
  • Bıçkıdere
  • Bozgoca
  • Bucaklı
  • Çataklı
  • Çavuş
  • Çayırbaşı
  • Çelebi
  • Çengilli
  • Darlık
  • Değirmençayırı
  • Doğancılı
  • Erenler
  • Esenceli
  • Geredeli
  • Göçe
  • Gökmaşlı
  • Göksu
  • Hacı Kasım
  • Hacıllı
  • Hasanlı
  • İmrendere
  • İmrenli
  • İsaköy
  • Kabakoz
  • Kadıköy
  • Kalem
  • Karabeyli
  • Karacaköy
  • Karakiraz
  • Karamandere
  • Kervansaray
  • Kızılca
  • Kömürlük
  • Korucu
  • Kumbaba
  • Kurfallı
  • Kurna
  • Meşrutiyet
  • Oruçoğlu
  • Osmanköy
  • Ovacık
  • Sahilköy
  • Satmazlı
  • Sofular
  • Soğullu
  • Sortullu
  • Şuayipli
  • Teke
  • Ulupelit
  • Üvezli
  • Yaka
  • Yaylalı
  • Yazımanayır
  • Yeniköy
  • Yeşilvadi

Features edit

 
Hüseyin Keçici Mosque

Şile is famous for its beaches. However, it is at the northernmost point of Istanbul and thus shares the same sea conditions as other Black Sea towns where strong sea undercurrents can be dangerous to inexperienced swimmers. Beachgoers drown here annually on a regular basis.[10] The north-facing Black Sea has a much shorter holiday season than the Aegean, the Mediterranean or even the Marmara, due to the relatively colder winters. Şile Castle (Turkish: Şile Kalesi) is a 14th-century Genoese castle on an island in Şile.[11] The castle was renovated in 2015, sparking criticism that the work had made it resemble the cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants or an illustration from the video game Minecraft.[12] The tomb of a Muslim saint, Kum Baba, is on a tree-covered hill above Şile.[13] Along the coast near Şile, in the village of Kızılcaköy, is a cave which, according to a local myth, is said to be the scene of events in the Anabasis of Xenophon. Şile is also known for Şile cloth, a crimped-looking, light, see-through cotton fabric, made on the Şile coast, sold in many shops in the town and sent to the bazaars of Istanbul.[14] A fair is held in the town to promote Şile cloth every summer.[15][16] The largest campus of Işık University is located in Şile.

Transport edit

Şile is a part of Istanbul public transport system (İETT). There is a bus from Harem via Üsküdar (located at the Anatolian side of Istanbul) to Şile (İETT Lines 139 and 139A).

Climate edit

Şile's climate is humid subtropical according to the Köppen and Trewartha climate classification, though until recently, the town was in the oceanic zone.[17] Şile's climate is marked by high humidity. It is in plant hardiness zone 8b, and AHS heat zone 2.[18]

Climate data for Şile, Istanbul
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 9.2
(48.6)
9.8
(49.6)
12.1
(53.8)
15.9
(60.6)
20.6
(69.1)
25.3
(77.5)
27.7
(81.9)
27.9
(82.2)
24.6
(76.3)
19.9
(67.8)
15.3
(59.5)
11.0
(51.8)
18.3
(64.9)
Daily mean °C (°F) 5.8
(42.4)
6.0
(42.8)
7.9
(46.2)
11.3
(52.3)
16.0
(60.8)
20.7
(69.3)
23.3
(73.9)
23.8
(74.8)
20.1
(68.2)
15.9
(60.6)
11.4
(52.5)
7.6
(45.7)
14.2
(57.5)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 2.9
(37.2)
2.9
(37.2)
4.4
(39.9)
7.5
(45.5)
12.0
(53.6)
16.1
(61.0)
18.9
(66.0)
19.8
(67.6)
16.1
(61.0)
12.5
(54.5)
8.1
(46.6)
4.7
(40.5)
10.5
(50.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 87.5
(3.44)
73.7
(2.90)
70.3
(2.77)
45.5
(1.79)
32.3
(1.27)
39.7
(1.56)
37.6
(1.48)
62.5
(2.46)
79.3
(3.12)
110.2
(4.34)
85.3
(3.36)
117.0
(4.61)
840.9
(33.1)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 18.8 15.3 13.7 12.4 11.6 9.2 5.0 6.7 7.9 12.5 16.8 20.2 150.1
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 cm) 4.3 4.4 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 2.6 11.9
Average relative humidity (%) 81.0 80.2 78.0 78.4 81.2 80.9 80.9 80.6 79.1 81.7 80.9 80.8 80.3
Source: [19][20][21]
 
Historic lighthouse Şile Feneri

Twin towns – sister cities edit

Şile is twinned with:[22]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Address-based population registration system (ADNKS) results dated 31 December 2022, Favorite Reports" (XLS). TÜİK. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  2. ^ Büyükşehir İlçe Belediyesi, Turkey Civil Administration Departments Inventory. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  3. ^ "İl ve İlçe Yüz ölçümleri". General Directorate of Mapping. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  4. ^ İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyesi (Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality). İstanbul Şehir Rehberi (Istanbul City Guide). Web: [1] Retrieved 26 June 2010.
  5. ^ Türk Dil Kurumu. Büyük Türkçe Sözlük (Large Turkish Dictionary). http://tdkterim.gov.tr/bts/?kategori=verilst&kelime=%FEile Retrieved 26 June 2010.
  6. ^ Hürel, page 301.
  7. ^ Kemal Karpat (1985), Ottoman Population, 1830-1914, Demographic and Social Characteristics, The University of Wisconsin Press, p. 138-139
  8. ^ Karar Sayısı : 89/35864, Resmî Gazete, 3 August 1989.
  9. ^ Mahalle, Turkey Civil Administration Departments Inventory. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  10. ^ Drownings in Şile
  11. ^ The Rough Guide to Istanbul. 2015. London: Rough Guides Ltd.
  12. ^ Historic Castle in Istanbul Turns into ‘SpongeBob’ after Restoration. 2015. Hurriyet Daily News (August 26).
  13. ^ Şile Istanbul
  14. ^ SuTowel
  15. ^ A.Ş, Glia İnovasyon Bilgi Teknolojileri. "İstanbul'un En Köklü Festivali - Şile Belediyesi". www.sile.bel.tr (in Turkish). Retrieved 2022-10-06.
  16. ^ "33. Şile Bezi Sanat ve Kültür Festivali". Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  17. ^ "Climate Explorer: Time series". climexp.knmi.nl. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  18. ^ "Bitki Soğuğa ve Sıcağa Dayanıklılık". www.mgm.gov.tr. Retrieved 2021-04-28.
  19. ^ "Climate Explorer: Time series". climexp.knmi.nl. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  20. ^ S.L, Tutiempo Network. "Climate SILETURKEY - Climate data (170200)". www.tutiempo.net. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  21. ^ "World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991-2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  22. ^ "Kardeş Şehirlerimiz - Şile Belediyesi".
  23. ^ "Städtepartnerschaften". idstein.de (in German). Idstein. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
Sources
  • Hürel, Haldun. Semtleri, Mahalleri, Caddeleri ve Sokakları A'dan Z'ye İstanbul'un Alfabetik Öyküsü. İstanbul, 2008. ISBN 978-975-999-290-3.

External links edit