Erzincan is a provincial capital at the Karasu (Black Water), one of the sources of the Euphrates, rather far to the East (150 km. to the North there’s Trabzon). Its is situated at the spot where there used to be an Armenian city, Erek (Erez). Old-Persian religions held swing here for a long time. The city suffered much damage from the Mongols (first in 1235). In 1243 is was utterly destroyed. Rebuilt it became a Mongol city. Between 1916 and 1918 it was Russian, later to become Turkish. In 1939 a very heavy earthquake wreaked havoc. As a result of this and other earthquakes I did not see old buildings. Instead I here show a modern, though provincial, city without any “sights” but quite nice for the two days I stayed. When landing I saw the surrounding mountains were breathtaking, they can be seen from the city.

I added new pictures taken in september 2007.