Tufanbeyli
General Information
District: Adana, State: Mediterranean Region, Turkey
Area: 964 km²
Languages Spoken: Turkish
Long Distance Code: (+90) 0322
Best Time to Visit: May to August
International Access: Adana Sakirpasa Airport (ADA)Description
History During the Bronze Age, the area was part of the kingdom of Kizzuwatna. In classical antiquity, the region of Tufanbeyli was in the southwestern corner of Cappadocia (while the parts of the Adana region south of Tufanbeyli were in Cilicia). The city of Comana was situated near Sarköy, some kilometers north of Tufanbeyli. The area is now settled by descendants of Turks from the Caucasus and the Avsar (Afshar tribe; the former having come to Anatolia as a result of the Russian influx into the Caucasus in the 18th and 19th centuries. The latter being one of the group of Turkish migrants from Asia that have preserved their clan identity in Anatolia. The Avsar played a key role in the Turkish conquest of the Cukurova region and remained a local authority right up until the 19th century, especially in mountain strongholds like Tufanbeyli. Its former names were Höketce before 1923 and Magara between 1923-1967. It was become a district in 1958 with separating from Saimbeyli.Location
Tufanbeyli is small city and a district in Adana Province of Turkey, 196 km north-east of the city of Adana, on an uneven, sloping plateau high in the Tahtali range of the Toros mountains. It has been bounded economically to Kayseri, 178 km far. Its neighbors are Sariz from North, Göksun from east, Saimbeyli from south, Develi from south-west and Tomarza from west. Tufanbeyli is reached by crossing one of three high mountain passes. It's a struggle to reach but the views are incredible. The river Göksu, a tributary of the Seyhan runs across the plateau.Climate
The climate is hot dry summers and cold winters. The mountains are forested but these are steadily being consumed by the local people.