Çarşamba (District)

Çarşamba, a district located on both banks of the Yeşilırmak River where it flows into the Black Sea, is part of the Samsun province. It is known for its thousands of years of history, fertile soils, and distinctive architectural structures.

Over thousands of years, the Yeşilırmak River deposited sediments carried from the mountains along the coastline, forming the Çarşamba Plain. In science, such plains are called “delta plains.” This deposition process continues to this day.

The plain consists of highly fertile soils known as alluvium. Thanks to these rich soils, many plant species thrive in the region. In the past, important products such as timber for shipbuilding and hemp for textiles were produced on these lands.

The district’s name originates from a large market established there since the 1300s. The Persian word Ceharşenbe, meaning “the fourth day of the week,” gradually came to be pronounced as “Çarşamba” among the local population.

Initially just a market place, the area gradually grew into a large town as surrounding villages merged together. Even today, the weekly market held in the district remains one of its oldest traditions.

Çarşamba features many fascinating sites created by both human hands and nature.

The Yeşilırmak Bridge, a symbol of the district, is a historic structure that has connected the two banks of the river since the 1890s. Another important site is the water mill built in the 1800s in the Kirazlıkçay neighborhood.

^{Yeşilırmak Bridge (generated by artificial intelligence)}

Located within the Göğceli Cemetery, this mosque is one of the most distinctive examples of Anatolian wooden architecture. Its most remarkable feature is that no metal nails were used in its construction; the wooden components were fitted together using interlocking joints.

^{Göğceli Mosque (generated by artificial intelligence)}

For nature lovers, the Kabaceviz Waterfalls, located 16 kilometers from the district center, are a major attraction. Water cascading from a height of approximately 60 meters provides excellent opportunities for nature walks and photography.

^{Kabaceviz Waterfalls (generated by artificial intelligence)}

The earliest settlements in Çarşamba date back 5,000 years to 3000 BCE. Over time, the region was ruled by various states including the Hittites, Romans, Byzantines, and the Taceddinoğulları Beylik. From the 15th century onward, the region came entirely under the administration of the Ottoman Empire.