Alucra is a district of Giresun Province, located in Türkiye's Black Sea Region, with mountainous and plateau-like terrain. According to the 2024 Address-Based Population Registration System, the district has a population of 9,025. While the Alucra region exhibits a plateau climate in terms of vegetation, its climate, unlike the Black Sea climate, is cold and snowy in winter and hot and dry in summer.
Alucra ( Alucra Municipality )
History
Alucra's settlement history begins with the Hittite civilization in the 2nd millennium BC; the region later came under the rule of the Scythian, Cimmerian, Median, Persian, Roman, and Byzantine empires. Alucra, which remained within the borders of the Kingdom of Pontus between 298 and 263 BC, subsequently came under the rule of the Abbasid Caliphate and experienced the rule of the Mengücek Principality and the Greek Empire of Trebizond. In 391 AD, the influx of Kipchak and Pecheneg communities from Central Asia began a period of approximately sixty years of Turkish rule. In the 8th century, the settlement of Oghuz and Turkmen tribes migrating from Transoxiana in the Çamoluk, Çakmak, and Koman regions had a lasting impact on the local demographic structure.
Following the Battle of Otlukbeli on August 11, 1473, with the defeat of the Akkoyunlu ruler Uzun Hasan, the region came under Ottoman rule. During World War I, the headquarters of the 2nd Corps was stationed in Zihar (Çakmak) village, and troops under the command of corps commander Brigadier General Fevzi Çakmak played a key role in the defense of the region. Alucra, which attained the status of a district center within the Karahisar-ı Şarki Sanjak in the 16th century, was administered as two separate districts, known as Mindaval and Kovanta, until 1876. That same year, it gained district status under the Governorship of Şebinkarahisar; after shifting locations for a time among the villages of Karabörek, Kemalli, and Koman, it settled in its current location.
Geography and Climate
The district of Alucra is located in the inland region of the Eastern Black Sea region, in the southwestern part of Giresun Province, in a transition zone between the mountain ranges running parallel to the Black Sea coast and the high plateaus of Central Anatolia. The mountain ranges parallel to the coast descend as they approach the district, creating a fractured topography and revealing distinct valleys and plateaus. The district's average elevation is approximately 1,450 m; the highest peaks include Abdal Musa Hill (3,330 m), Cankurtaran Hill (3,278 m), Gavurdağı Hill (3,248 m), and Karataş Hill (3,107 m). The main mountain passes connecting the coast to Central Anatolia are Şehitler Pass (2,475 m), Eğribel Pass (2,075 m), and Fındıkbel Pass (1,750 m).
The region's hydrography is shaped by the higher elevations of the Kelkit River basin. The main streams are İnce Creek, Bağırsak Creek, and Moran Creek. İnce Creek and Bağırsak Creek are fed by snowmelt in late winter and spring, but tend to dry out occasionally during the summer months. Moran Creek, however, has a more regular flow and is less affected by summer drought. Spring rainfall and snowmelt lead to increased flow in all these streams; this increase is particularly pronounced in Bağırsak Creek.
Climate-wise, Alucra exhibits continental and semiarid characteristics, deviating from the temperate rainfall regime of the Black Sea region. Winters are cold with heavy snowfall, while summers are hot and dry. Snow cover can persist until mid-April, while spring rains generally last until June. The average annual temperature is 18°C, the average low is around –1.9°C, and the total annual precipitation is approximately 560 mm. These values indicate that the region has a climate regime characterized by seasonal imbalances.
In terms of land cover, Alucra exhibits the characteristics of a highland climate. The northern slopes are covered with pine forests, while fir forests predominate at higher elevations, while the southern slopes are more sparsely forested and open. Poplar (cypress) trees are common in the district center. Extensive pastures extend across the highland plains, suitable for raising cattle and sheep. Agricultural activities are primarily limited to grain production due to summer drought and limited water resources, while potatoes, beans, sugar beets, and kale are grown on irrigated lands.
Altitude, sharp seasonal variations, and limited water resources define Alucra as an ecological and climatic transition zone between the humid systems of the Black Sea and the continental conditions of Central Anatolia. These geographical and climatic characteristics directly shape both the diversity of the local ecosystem and the economic structure of transhumance, pasture animal husbandry, and limited-scale agriculture.
Population and Demography
The district of Alucra is a rural settlement spread over a vast area of 1,200 km² in the inland Black Sea Region of Türkiye, approximately 150 km from Giresun city center. Known for its high elevation of 1,450 m and mountainous plateaus, the district has a total population of 9,025 according to 2024 Address-Based Population Registration System data. This size translates to an average population density of 7.5 people per square kilometer, well below the Turkish average, highlighting Alucra's sparsely populated nature.
While detailed official data on age groups is limited, regional trends indicate a rising proportion of elderly people, driven by the increasing migration of younger age groups, and the onset of demographic aging. While household size reflects a rural culture, a general decline in fertility and a higher mortality rate compared to urban centers limit the rate of natural growth. This suggests that both Alucra's population size and age composition may be vulnerable in the long term. Alucra's demographic future depends largely on policies that strengthen the local economic structure.
Economy
The Alucra district, situated on a high plateau and characterized by the continental climate characteristic of the inland areas, shapes its economic structure primarily around the primary sector. An average elevation of 1,450 m, irregular rainfall distribution, and limited water resources have made grains the primary crop in agricultural production. In addition to traditional local grain varieties such as wheat and barley, field crops such as potatoes, beans, sugar beets, and kale are also grown on a limited scale. However, low rainfall and summer droughts limit yields and crop diversity in areas with limited irrigation opportunities.
Livestock farming is another key driver of Alucra's economy. Throughout the district, transhumance serves a multifaceted function, serving both as a cultural heritage and a source of income. Towards the end of spring, herds are taken to the high pastures in accordance with ancestral highland traditions; pasture use throughout the summer ensures the continued existence of both cattle and sheep farming as a livestock-based economic activity. This transhumance practice, combined with the highland festivals and festivities organized in recent years for recreation and social interaction, adds a new dimension to the potential for rural tourism.
Forest resources also play a significant role in the district's economy. Pine and fir forests, concentrated in areas such as Tohumluk, Boyluca, and Zilovaciği, contribute to meeting both timber and firewood needs. The ecosystem services provided by forest cover contribute to maintaining agricultural productivity through indirect benefits such as water retention, preventing soil erosion, and supporting pastureland.
Aquaculture production has diversified recently thanks to the development of artificial ponds in Alucra. Trout production, suitable for cold-water fishing, is carried out in small-scale pond facilities established by local units and investors. This increases employment opportunities in rural areas and creates new product lines for the domestic market. Beekeeping is another traditional activity in the district, and the annual honey production of approximately 50 tons contributes to both family finances and regional branding.
While Alucra's underground resources have not yet reached the level of large-scale mining, geological studies have identified rich reserves of lignite, iron, copper, and lead. These mineral assets offer potential that can be exploited with appropriate investment and technology, but geographical access difficulties and environmental sensitivities require careful planning of the scale and methods of exploitation.
In general, the economy of Alucra, despite the agricultural limitations of the high mountain terrain, is based on transhumance and animal husbandry. While grains maintain their primary agricultural production, secondary crops such as potatoes and legumes are cultivated on irrigated plots, and aquaculture and apiculture are also integrated as additional sources of income. Forest products and potential mining activities, when evaluated from a sustainable development perspective, create opportunities to diversify Alucra's socio-economic fabric and increase its external production capacity.
Alucra ( Alucra Municipality )
Tourism - Culture - Cuisine
The structures registered in Alucra between 1982 and 2011 reflect the district's historical and architectural identity. Examples of tombs, churches, and mosques constitute the religious structures; bridges and fountains constitute the water features; and the Public Debt Administration buildings and village guesthouses constitute the residential architecture. These structures, scattered throughout villages such as Boyluca, Çakmak, Çakrak, Kamışlı, and Piril, bear traces of both the Ottoman and earlier periods. The tombs of Seyyid Mahmud, İsmail Hakkı, and Yakup Gülami, members of the Çağırganlu tribe, and the Kamışlı Village Church, in particular, provide concrete evidence of the region's historical interfaith interaction. Water structures, on the other hand, make clear the transportation and settlement connections that developed parallel to historical trade routes.
Alucra's cultural fabric embodies unique forms born from the intersection of the widespread customs and traditions of Central Anatolia with the Black Sea highland tradition. Highland festivals, exhibitions of handicrafts (rugs and textiles), and religious ceremonies play a significant role in the intergenerational transmission of social identity. Beyond the literal records, oral history narratives and local dialects enrich the district's folk cultural heritage. Traditional clothing, handmade tools, and local wedding ceremonies are key elements demonstrating Alucra's cultural continuity.
Geographic and climatic constraints have shaped Alucra's cuisine around a core of durable and nutritious products. Grains (wheat and barley) and field crops such as kale, beets, potatoes, beans, and sugar beets constitute the main raw materials. Dairy and animal byproducts in the district center have also fueled the development of yogurt, cottage cheese, and local cheese varieties. Annual honey production averages 50 tons, creating the potential for a brand known as "highland honey." Beetroot soup, recognized in recent years by a notable local cooking competition, stands out as the primary recipe featuring the region's unique red beet. Furthermore, fresh fish offered through trout farming provides a diverse range of flavors in both tourist facilities and local restaurants. The local cuisine, with its low-fat olive oil-based bean and kale dishes, combines the distinctive flavors of Central Anatolian cuisine with the highland products of the Black Sea region.
