About

GEOGRAPHICAL STRUCTURE

Ereğli is a district of Konya province, located in the Konya Section of the Central Anatolia Region. The district, situated at the foothills of the Taurus Mountains, lies 153 km southeast of the Konya city center. Positioned at 37° 36’ north latitude and 34° 31’ east longitude, Ereğli is bordered by Emirgazi to the north, Niğde to the east, Karaman and Halkapınar to the south, and Karapınar to the west. The urban development area of the city center covers 35 km².

A) TOPOGRAPHY

1) MOUNTAINS

The Taurus Mountains begin 20 km south of the district center. To the north of the district is Hasan Mountain, an extinct volcano reaching 3,254 meters, and to the northwest is Karacadağ.

2) STREAMS

The most important stream of the district is the İvriz Stream, which originates from the Bolkar Mountains, a part of the Taurus range, and is named after the village where it arises. This stream merges with the Delimahmutlu Stream, coming from the east (Delimahmutlu village), and flows into the İvriz Dam, which has a capacity of 83 million cubic meters.

B) VEGETATION

The district is predominantly rural. Although its northern part borders the mountains, there are no natural forests; however, newly established afforestation areas are noteworthy. The land distribution is approximately 49% agricultural land, 12% meadows and pastures, 38% non-agricultural land, and 1% forests and shrublands.

C) CLIMATE

Ereğli has a continental climate. Summers are hot and dry, while winters are cold and harsh.

DEMOGRAPHIC STRUCTURE

As of December 30, 2022, according to the Address-Based Population Registration System (ADNKS), Ereğli has a total population of 150,978, with 76,239 males and 74,739 females. About 70% of the population lives in the urban center, while 30% reside in rural areas. The annual population growth rate is 1.10%. With the implementation of Law No. 6360, the boundaries of Ereğli Municipality were extended to include the entire district, increasing its total area to 2,826.65 km². After the local elections on March 30, 2014, the number of neighborhoods increased from 37 to 87, as villages and towns were reclassified as neighborhoods.

SOCIAL STRUCTURE

Located in the southeastern part of Central Anatolia, at the foothills of the Taurus Mountains, Ereğli is one of the largest districts in Turkey. With its population and economic potential, it surpasses approximately 30 provinces. Ereğli is also a notable settlement with its historical significance and natural beauty. The borders of the world-famous Cappadocia region begin in Ereğli. The district was established even before the Hittite period and has historically been an important settlement.

The waters emerging from the Taurus Mountains have significantly enhanced Ereğli’s natural beauty, earning it the nickname "Green Ereğli." It is known that the water and climate of Ereğli have a positive effect on horses. Although it has lost some of its former charm, Akgöl, known as the Bird Paradise, is located to the south of Ereğli. Renowned horse breeders such as Hasan Adalı and Sadık Eliyeşil established stud farms here, believing in the beneficial effects of Ereğli’s environment on horses. Today, many of the horses racing at Turkish racetracks were raised in these local stud farms, and this tradition continues.

Ereğli holds a significant transportation position, located on the roads connecting the Central Anatolia and Mediterranean Regions via the Sertavul Pass and Gülek Pass. Historically, it served as a vital stop on the Istanbul-Baghdad transit route. Ereğli is also within a 1.5–2 hour distance from the airports of Adana and Konya, as well as the Port of Mersin. The district is home to one of the key stations of the State Railways. A settlement’s ease of access is undoubtedly an important factor contributing to its social and economic development. Recognizing this advantage, the people of Ereğli have taken noticeable steps in recent years to transform the district from an agricultural town into an industrial city.

As of December 30, 2022, Ereğli has 87 neighborhoods and a population of 150,978. Surrounding districts such as Karapınar, Halkapınar, Emirgazi, and Ayrancı have close social and economic ties with Ereğli. In recent years, especially with rapid progress in industrialization, factors have emerged that suggest Ereğli's actual population may be even higher than officially recorded.

Ereğli is a prominent city that deserves development with its historical background, geographical features, natural resources, education, healthcare, transportation, urban infrastructure, and most importantly, citizens who are deeply attached to their hometown. It is a city committed to development through agriculture and industry.

With the aim of not just solving today's problems but also building Ereğli’s future, efforts continue to analyze the city’s issues, potential, and infrastructure in the most effective way, using feasibility reports and external evaluations.

The interest and support of many Ereğli citizens—both at home and abroad—especially businessmen and bureaucrats, provide the courage and strength needed to reach our goals for a productive and prosperous Ereğli.

With the support of its people and institutions, Ereğli continues to add new praise to its reputation and keeps alive the hope and aspiration of becoming a province and aligning itself with the concept of a modern European city.