Aliağa, İzmir Province, Aegean Region, Türkiye

🇹🇷 Aliağa, is a town and a district of Izmir Province in the Aegean Region of Turkey. The town is situated at about 50 km (31 mi) north of Izmir. Aliağa has a large port, mainly for oil and bulk cargo. Its economic activity is based on tourism, shipbreaking, and an oil refinery.

Overview and history Aliağa lies in the heart of ancient Aeolia. The town was named after a member of the influential Karaosmanoğulları ayan family, Karaosmanoğlu Ali Ağa, who owned an estate here. It was a township in Menemen district in 1937 and became a municipality in 1952. It finally separated from Menemen and became a district on 21 January 1982.

The remains of the ancient city of Myrina are within the boundaries of the district, located at about fifteen km north of Aliağa centre. Another ancient site is the yet unexplored Gryneion, near Şakran township on the peninsula, to the south of the centre town, also at a distance of 15 km (9 mi). Visitors also often use the road from Aliağa to visit the remains of Aigai in Yuntdağı in Manisa Province.

In 2021, a monastery and floor mosaic have been found during an illegal excavation. Archaeologists believe that the monastery was used in the 4th century to the 14th century.

Composition There are 30 neighbourhoods in Aliağa District: • Aşağışakran • Atatürk • Bahçedere • Barbaros Hayrettin Paşa • Bozköy • Çakmaklı • Çaltılıdere • Çıtak • Çoraklar • Fatih • Güzelhisar • Hacıömerli • Horozgediği • Kalabak • Kapıkaya • Karaköy • Karakuzu • Kazım Dirik • Kültür • Kurtuluş • Mimar Sinan • Samurlu • Şehitkemal • Siteler • Uzunhasanlar • Yalı • Yeni • Yenişakran • Yukarışehitkemal • Yüksekköy

Economy and geography The D.550 roadway runs through the city, between Muğla-Edirne and also to İzmir. Aliağa is also connected to İzmir by İZBAN, a commuter railway operating around İzmir. İZBAN operates 15 daily trains from Aliağa Railway Station to Alsancak Terminal in İzmir. ESHOT operates the 834 bus line to İzmir as well.

Ship-breaking There are several facilities for dismantling and scrapping ships. The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic sped up the process of ship recycling because owners of idled cruise ships looked to stem the red ink.