Çamoluk is a historical inland district located in a 600 km² valley along the Kelkit River, west of Giresun Province. The district is bordered by Alucra and Şebinkarahisar to the north, Sivas to the east, Erzincan to the south, and Gümüşhane to the west . According to 2024 population data, the settlement comprises 6,258 people, with 53.6% male and 46.4% female. Known as Mindeval-Teştik in the Ottoman Empire , the region gained district status on May 20 , 1990.
Çamoluk (TC Çamoluk District Governorship)
Date
Çamoluk is located at one of the most important crossing points of the Kelkit Valley, which extends into the interior of Turkey's Black Sea region . It was a relatively isolated settlement, both geographically and administratively, until recently . A look at the district's history reveals a multilayered continuity of settlement dating back to the Hittite period. Artifacts and the etymological implications of the region's name suggest that the valley served as an east - west trade and transit route in ancient times.
During the Ottoman period, the settlement, known as "Mindeval-Teştik," was for many years a sub-district of the Alucra district in northern Giresun due to its proximity to the central administrative structure. During this period, taxes collected from the villages along the valley and the security of trade routes determined the sub-district's function within the Ottoman provincial organization. The settlement's name in Ottoman records indicates the simultaneous mention of two distinct settlements in the region—Mindeval and Teştik—and offers a significant clue to the region's ethnically and geographically fragmented structure.
From the early years of the Republic, administrative regulations in rural areas of Turkey were shaped by Çamoluk's efforts to overcome poor road conditions and the central government's transportation challenges. With a Council of Ministers decision issued on May 20, 1990, Çamoluk gained its own district status, separating from the Alucra district, to which it had long been affiliated. The district's residents, in a referendum held on July 15 , 1990, directly voted to remain within Giresun province, playing an active role in the relationship between regional identity and the central provincial administration. This decision is one of the rare examples of the democratic implementation of the right to administrative choice among inland settlements.
Geographically, Çamoluk covers an area of 600 km², extending from Şebinkarahisar and Alucra to the north, Sivas and Erzincan to the east, and Gümüşhane to the south. The valley floors along the Kelkit River provide agricultural and transportation advantages to the settlement, but the surrounding steep slopes have historically constituted a significant natural defensive barrier. The topography , which encompasses these two elements, has been a determining factor in the choices of both settler societies and their operational routes throughout the period from antiquity to the Ottoman Empire and the Republic.
Çamoluk's historical development can be interpreted as the flexible footprint of the region's social structure as it evolved from a small valley village to a modern district center. While village and hamlet settlements defined the boundaries of local autonomy until the district's establishment, integration with the central government and infrastructure investments after its establishment carried the potential to transform the socioeconomic balance of the region's population. This transformation , reinforced by the Black Sea Project (KARDEP) and the Special Provincial Administration's investments aimed at closing the coastal-inland gap, has enabled Çamoluk to enter a new era in terms of transportation and public services.
Geography and Climate
The district of Çamoluk extends over an area of approximately 600 km², situated on the floor of a wide valley formed by the Kelkit River. The steep, fractured slopes of the Pontus Mountains, which merge with the Berdiya Mountains to the north, encircle the district, while the valley, running east-west, forms a natural corridor for settlement . The valleys originating from Alucra and Şebinkarahisar converge here, forming inland passages leading to Gümüşhane, Sivas, and Erzincan. This morphological structure has shaped the development of transportation axes and settlement patterns.
In terms of landforms , Çamoluk is characterized by elevation differences between 600 and 1,600 meters on the surrounding high ridges. The valley floor averages around 700 meters, and the mountain peaks rising along the sides reach elevations of 1,800 to 2,000 meters. In the lower reaches of the steep slopes, alluvial valley deposits form narrow plains in places, while higher elevations are home to sparse forest belts on fractured rock, marble, and gneissic rocks . This topography has positioned settlements along the valley, close to water sources, and around transportation lines.
Çamoluk's primary water source is the Kelkit River. Flowing through the valley, this river is fed by small streams and creeks; spring thaws, particularly rainwater from the northern ridges, increase its flow. During the summer months, groundwater recharge within the valley is limited, and autumn rainfall revitalizes the riverbed. While the alluvial deposits along the river provide suitable soil for agricultural activities, the risk of floods and inundations increases seasonally.
The climate becomes continental as one moves away from the humid systems along the Black Sea coast . Summers are hot and relatively dry , while winters are harsh. Snow cover persists for extended periods in the higher elevations of the settlement . Diurnal temperature differences are significant between the valley bottom and the hilltops; humidity remains low throughout the winter , while spring and autumn precipitation accounts for the majority of total precipitation. This climatic regime directly influences the zoned distribution of vegetation and the agricultural calendar .
The distribution of soil and vegetation is a natural consequence of the interaction between climate and geomorphology. People settled in the plains formed by valley sediments , engaging in small-scale agriculture focused on grains. They continue their tradition of transhumance in the pastures between the slopes and forest boundaries. Oak and hornbeam forests are common on the northern slopes, while coniferous plants are common in the drier areas to the south. These natural patterns, adapted to continental climate conditions, shape the settlement patterns that center the district's economic and social life.
Population and Demography
The Çamoluk district extends over a geographical area of approximately 600 km², starting from the bottom of the Kelkit River valley and rising to the surrounding steep mountain ridges. According to 2023 census data, the district has a total population of 7,254. This corresponds to a very low population density of 12.1 people per square kilometer. This density, which is well below the Turkish average , is directly related to the region's rugged topography and rural character.
In terms of gender distribution, 3,876 men (53.4%) and 3,378 women (46.6%) were recorded in Çamoluk. This slight male predominance can be attributed to the traditionally male-dominated agricultural and construction workforce, as well as the tendency for young women to migrate to larger cities to pursue employment opportunities in education and the public sector. The more homogeneous distribution of the female population in rural areas rather than the city center also shapes the division of labor within household agricultural activities and within hamlet settlements.
The settlement structure is based on over 20 villages and hamlets, primarily located in the district center at the valley floor and on the adjacent plain. While the urban development area is shaped like a narrow coastal plain, village populations in rural areas exhibit seasonal variation, decreasing further during high plateau periods. Temporary upwelling (transhumance) movements to some plateaus during spring and summer lead to temporary population concentration in summer residences outside the valley; this dynamic adds another layer to the interpretation of year-round demographic statistics.
In terms of population movements, Çamoluk has experienced waves of migration to major cities since it gained district status in the 1990s. The migration of young and school-aged people seeking university education and non-agricultural employment to the coastal metropolises of the Eastern Black Sea region, the medium-sized provinces of Central Anatolia , and the Marmara region has increased the district's demographic average age .
While no detailed official breakdown of age groups exists , considering the general demographic pattern of the rural Black Sea inland areas, it can be said that the 0-14 age group represents less than 20% of the total population, fluctuations are observed in the 15-24 age group due to summer population losses, the 25-44 age group is more evenly distributed in the city center, and the 45+ age group dominates rural areas. In this profile, the association of the active working age with employment opportunities created in agriculture and the service sector leads to the conclusion that, under conditions where education and health infrastructure are centrally located, access to social services may be hampered in rural areas.
While the average household size is in the 4-5-person range, reflecting the structure of regional farming families, the stock of vacant and unused housing emerges as one of the spatial manifestations of migration and demographic contraction. Residential use is temporary in the highland settlements, where seasonal migration is concentrated. A portion of the housing stock in the center caters to the housing needs of education, healthcare, and public services workers.
Economy
Wheat is the dominant agricultural crop, which forms the basis of the Çamoluk economy . Planting takes place in the valley floors, using soil nourished by spring rains and spring thaws. Grains and legumes such as barley , rye , and lentils are distributed according to winter and summer planting schedules to maintain soil fertility. While vegetable production is limited to irrigated plots within the narrow plain, tomato, pepper, and kale cultivation , which will feed the local sauce and pickle culture, also supports local markets.
Çamoluk's rugged slopes and high plateaus offer suitable summer pastures for the continuation of the Turkish tradition of transhumance. The transition to the high plateaus, which begins in April , allows cattle and sheep to meet their forage needs on natural pastures. This process increases milk and meat yields and creates opportunities for plateau tourism as a source of income outside of agricultural production . Furthermore, small-scale milk processing facilities established in the plateaus and village areas facilitate the access of value-added products such as cottage cheese , buttermilk, and butter to village markets.
The floral diversity afforded by the geography, enriched by the highland plants that bloom in spring and early summer, creates a favorable ecosystem for beekeeping in the region. The Honey Festival, held in Çamoluk in September , not only promotes local honey but also accelerates the establishment of apiculture cooperatives and the branding of quality honey. Annual honey production contributes significantly to household incomes and offers a more organic profile than coastal provinces, making it a model for rural development.
Primary sector-focused production is supported by workshop -type industrial facilities such as small-scale flour, feed, and honey processing . While cooperatives and family businesses have limited investment in modern equipment, they have access to technology transfer and training programs through regional development projects. The service sector, on the other hand, is concentrated in the center, focusing on education, healthcare, and public employment. This fuels daily migration from rural areas to the center, increasing local consumption volume.
Çamoluk's most significant economic constraint is its challenging transportation conditions and the resulting infrastructure and logistics deficiencies. Seasonal snowfall and flood risks complicate the transportation of agricultural products, while encouraging a young workforce to migrate to cities in search of education and employment opportunities. This demographic trend accelerates the loss of agricultural labor and threatens productivity and production continuity.
Tourism - Culture - Cuisine
Çamoluk is a place that preserves traditional living practices and is also preferred for nature tourism.
Yenice Waterfalls, located on Pınarbaşı Creek within the village of Yenice, has been declared a Natural Monument. With heights of up to 40 meters and underground water-fed cascades, they are a pioneer in regional ecotourism. Hiking paths along the canyon , featuring rare geomorphological formations and rich flora, create photography, nature walks, and sightseeing trails, while camping areas and recreational areas offer visitors a holistic experience .
The Bektaşbey Mosque in Sarpkaya Village, Çamoluk, is preserved as an exemplary structure with its wooden ceiling and stone wall arrangements that have survived from the Ottoman period. Included in the inventory of the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, this mosque appeals to both religious tourism and those interested in folk architecture. This mosque, made of stone and wood, serves as a place of worship for the congregation and is important for the region's architectural continuity .
Çamoluk, adhering to rural Anatolian traditions, holds a Honey Festival every September. This event, where beekeepers who collect pollen from highland flowers exhibit their products, directly demonstrates the solidarity between farmers and villagers and the production of geographically indicated honey. Local folk dances, cooking competitions, and handicraft exhibitions at the festivals allow for the transmission of cultural continuity from generation to generation .
Shaped by the produce of the inland region, Çamoluk cuisine develops around grain-based pastries and meat dishes based on animal husbandry. Wheat and barley, cultivated in the alluvial soil of the valley floor, form the basis for pastries such as noodles, gözleme (Turkish flatbread), and bazlama (a type of flatbread). As part of winter preparations, local women prepare baked goods, pickles, molasses, and jams, preserving their preservation techniques that preserve their freshness for extended periods.
Among livestock products, tecen (white cheese), tulum cheese ( a type of cheese made from highland milk) , curd cheese (a type of cheese called tulum cheese), and burying cube cheese are prominent. Trout, caught along streams or raised in culture facilities, are an essential part of highland menus. However, the district's true symbol is the "Çamoluk Şeker Kuru Bean" (a type of dry bean ) registered with a geographical indication . With its distinctive flavor and short cooking time, this bean has held a prominent place in the field and in the kitchen for years . Following its application for a geographical indication, it gained national recognition, packaging facilities were established to expand its production, and it has provided a source of supplementary income for the local population.
