Zara, Turkey

Municipality in Sivas, Turkey

39°53′42″N 37°45′11″E / 39.89500°N 37.75306°E / 39.89500; 37.75306CountryTurkeyProvinceSivasDistrictZaraGovernment

• MayorFatih Celik (MHP)Elevation

1,350 m (4,430 ft)Population

(2022)^[1]

11,636Time zoneUTC+3 (TRT)Postal code

58700

Area code0346Websitewww.zara.bel.tr

Zara is a town in Sivas Province of Turkey. It is the seat of Zara District.^[2] Its population is 11,636 (2022).^[1] The mayor is Fatih Celik (MHP). The town is 70 km. (appr. 45 miles) away from downtown Sivas.

History

In antiquity, Zara (Ancient Greek: Ζάρα) was a town in the northern part of Armenia Minor, or perhaps more correctly in Pontus, on the road from Caesarea to Satala, and on the road from Arabissus to Nicopolis.^[3]^[4]

Economy

Historically, silver was extracted from lead in Zara. Coal, asbestos, and arsenic were also produced in the area.^[5]

Climate

Zara has a dry-summer humid continental climate (Köppen: Dsb),^[6] with warm, dry summers, and cold winters.

Climate data for Zara (1991–2020)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	1.4 (34.5)	2.8 (37.0)	8.5 (47.3)	14.7 (58.5)	19.6 (67.3)	24.1 (75.4)	28.0 (82.4)	29.0 (84.2)	24.9 (76.8)	18.7 (65.7)	10.7 (51.3)	4.0 (39.2)	15.6 (60.1)
Daily mean °C (°F)	−3.3 (26.1)	−2.3 (27.9)	3.0 (37.4)	8.4 (47.1)	12.7 (54.9)	16.5 (61.7)	19.7 (67.5)	20.2 (68.4)	16.1 (61.0)	11.1 (52.0)	4.1 (39.4)	−0.8 (30.6)	8.8 (47.8)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	−7.4 (18.7)	−6.9 (19.6)	−2.1 (28.2)	2.3 (36.1)	6.1 (43.0)	8.8 (47.8)	11.1 (52.0)	11.3 (52.3)	7.3 (45.1)	4.0 (39.2)	−1.5 (29.3)	−4.8 (23.4)	2.4 (36.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	41.91 (1.65)	35.82 (1.41)	53.77 (2.12)	76.01 (2.99)	68.84 (2.71)	43.2 (1.70)	9.05 (0.36)	7.62 (0.30)	22.07 (0.87)	47.53 (1.87)	45.95 (1.81)	44.68 (1.76)	496.45 (19.55)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm)	7.4	7.0	8.3	11.2	10.6	6.8	2.4	1.9	3.4	6.6	6.9	7.7	80.2
Average relative humidity (%)	74.6	72.6	66.7	61.7	62.9	60.8	56.2	55.1	56.7	64.4	69.1	74.6	64.5
Source: NOAA^[7]

References

^ ^a ^b "Address-based population registration system (ADNKS) results dated 31 December 2022, Favorite Reports" (XLS). TÜİK. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
^ İlçe Belediyesi, Turkey Civil Administration Departments Inventory. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
^ Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Zara". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.
^ Antonine Itinerary pp. 182, 207, 213.
^ Prothero, G.W. (1920). Armenia and Kurdistan. London: H.M. Stationery Office. pp. 74–75.
^ "Table 1 Overview of the Köppen-Geiger climate classes including the defining criteria". Nature: Scientific Data.
^ "World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991-2020 — Zara". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved January 17, 2024.