| Söke | |
|---|---|
| — Town — | |
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| Country |  Turkey |
| Region | Aegean |
| Province | Aydın |
| Government | |
| - Mayor | NECDET ÖZEKMEKÇİ |
| - Governor | CELİL ATEŞOĞLU |
| Area | |
| - Total | 1,114 km2 (430.1 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 27 m (89 ft) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 137,739 |
| Time zone | EET (UTC+2) |
| - Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+3) |
| Postal code | 09200 |
| Area code(s) | 256 |
| Licence plate | 09 |
| Website | http://www.soke.bel.tr |
Söke (Greek: Ανέων, Aneon or Σώκια, Sokia) is a town and a large district of Aydın Province in the Aegean region of western Turkey, 54 km (34 mi) south-west of the city of Aydın, near the Aegean coast. It had 66,000 population in 2007.
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Geography
The district lies between the Aegean coast and the edge of the fertile alluvial plain of the Büyük Menderes River. Lake Bafa is to the south of the district. The plain contains much rich agricultural land, one of Turkey's largest cotton growing areas and also important for wheat and flour. Other income comes from handicrafts, forestry and fishing. Söke is Turkey's only exporter of culinary snails.
The Aegean region is rich in history and natural beauty, complemented with Mediterranean climate. Söke is a large town right in the centre of the region, the market town at the heart of a wealthy agricultural district, with a dramatic backdrop of mountains. Furthermore, although eclipsed by the nearby centres of tourism on the coast, Kuşadası, Didim and Bodrum, Söke does catch passing trade from the many visitors to the area, including visitors to the nearby historical site of Priene. There are a number of amenities on the highway for tourists passing through from Izmir airport to the coast, these include restaurants, service stations, and outlet stores selling cut-price clothing. The local cuisine includes çöp şiş (a shish kebab of small pieces of lamb) and pide (a flat bread pizza).
Söke is a town of 62,000 people, and with its shops and high schools, it is the hub of the rural area.
History
Settled since the centuries BC, The region of Söke was inhabited by Greeks until 1426 when it was taken over by the Ottoman Turks as remaining capital of the Sanjak of Menteşe.
During the Turkish War of Independence (1919-1922) resistance in the area was led by one Cafer Efe, whose statue is in the town. See Efe for the background to this era.
Söke was settled with Turkish immigrants from Crete during the Population exchange between Greece and Turkey in the 1920s.
Population
year - town - district as a whole
2000 62,384 137,739
1997 62,361 125,282
1990 50,866 119,750
Places of interest
- Priene - ancient ruins, 15 km (9 mi) from Söke
See also
External links
Coordinates: 37°45′03″N 27°24′37″E / 37.7508°N 27.4103°E
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