Hopa is a coastal district located northeast of Artvin province, on the Black Sea coast , and is notable for its proximity to the Georgian border . Covering 289 km², the district is bordered by Sarp to the east, Borçka to the south, Arhavi to the west, and the Black Sea to the north. Its landforms consist of the steep slopes of the Karçal, Sultanselim, and Balıklı Mountains, along with a narrow coastal strip.

Yavuz Sultan Selim Hill, at 1,513 meters , is the district's highest point. Hopa, which had a population of 27,806 as of 2024, has an economic structure shaped by agriculture, fishing, border trade, and port activities. In addition to foreign trade through the Sarp Border Gate and Hopa Port, it is a settlement of regional importance due to its rich natural beauty, location on a migration route, and cultural diversity.

^{Hopa ( Hopa District National Education Directorate )}

History

The process of integrating Hopa and its surroundings into the Ottoman Empire began during Selim I 's time as Governor of Trabzon . Hopa was incorporated into Ottoman rule as a result of Selim 's military campaigns into the region between 1490 and 1512. In 1509, with the conquest of Gönye Castle , which lies outside the borders of present-day Türkiye, Hopa was incorporated into the sanjak system established , thus officially integrating it into the Ottoman administrative structure.

With the establishment of the Çıldır Province , centered in Ahıska , by Lala Mustafa Pasha in 1578 , Hopa was incorporated into the province's borders. After the Ardanuç Sanjak , the region was annexed to the Livana Sanjak and was administered under the Ottoman provincial administration system of " yurtluk ve ocaklık" (territory and hearth) and "zeamet ve fief" (fief and timar). With the 1829 Treaty of Edirne , which ceded Ahıska to Russia , Hopa became part of the Batumi Sanjak , part of the Trabzon Province .

According to the Kars - Ardahan Treaty signed after the 1877–1878 Ottoman-Russian War , Hopa and the region up to the Kemalpaşa district were ceded to Russia . However, this ended with Hopa's re- attachment to the Rize Sanjak in 1878. A district organization was established in 1883; during World War I , the district was invaded by Russia on February 23, 1915. Following the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk on March 31 , 1917, Russian troops withdrew; on March 14, 1918, the Turkish Army entered Hopa and re-incorporated the district into Turkish territory.

Hopa, administered as a district of Rize province in the early years of the Republic, was annexed to Artvin province in 1936. Its administrative structure, which at that time consisted of three sub-districts and seventy-one villages, underwent changes in the following years. Law No. 5071 separated Fındıklı from Rize on January 1, 1948, becoming a district. Law No. 6324 also separated Arhavi from Hopa on June 1 , 1954, making it a separate district.

The modern-day name "Hopa" derives from the word "Hop" ( meaning " beautiful " in Persian), which was given to the region by Yavuz Sultan Selim in the 16th century. It is reported that Sultan Selim , who camped in the mountains behind Hopa during a campaign during his time as Governor of Trabzon, began referring to the coastal settlement by this name. Over time , this name, colloquially pronounced "Hop," evolved into the current form of "Hopa."

Geography and Climate

Hopa district is located on the Black Sea coast of Artvin province, with elevations ranging from 0 to 600 meters above sea level. The district covers an area of ​​289 km². The region is bordered by the Black Sea to the north, the Karçal Mountains to the west, the extensions of Balıklı Mountain to the east, and the Sultanselim Mountains to the south. The coastline is defined by steep slopes and narrow valleys that open directly onto the Black Sea.

The Karçal Mountains rise from the west , shaping the western landscape of the district with peaks exceeding 3,000 meters. Balıklı Mountain is located in the east of the district, while the Sultanselim Mountains influence the topography to the south . The valleys between these mountain ranges, which run parallel to the sea, contain fertile plains and plateaus. The highest point in the region is Yavuz Sultan Selim Hill, at an elevation of 1,513 meters.

The climate is warm-temperate (Cfb) due to the influence of the Black Sea . The average annual temperature is 13.1 °C, and the average annual precipitation is approximately 2,435 millimeters. Precipitation is distributed regularly throughout the year, with the heaviest precipitation occurring in autumn and winter .

Vegetation varies gradually from sea level to the higher mountain slopes. Hazelnut orchards and occasional tea cultivation are found along the coastal plain. Forests of broad-leaved trees (beech, hornbeam, and alder) are found at mid-elevations, while spruce and fir forests occur at higher elevations . Alpine meadow and pasture ecosystems emerge as one approaches the summits. This plant diversity, combined with the region's high humidity and abundant rainfall , forms Hopa's natural vegetation, unique to the Black Sea climate.

Population and Demography

According to Address-Based Population Registration System (ABPRS) data, Hopa district had a population of 27,806 in 2024. The district has a population density of approximately 98 people/km² on a surface area of ​​289 km². Settlement is concentrated mostly along the coastline and in valleys, while villages at higher elevations are more sparsely populated.

A total of 23,369 people live in the seven neighborhoods located in the district center. Ortahopa has the highest population with 5,794 . Kuledibi and Sugören are other densely populated neighborhoods . A total of 4,437 people live in the sixteen villages of Hopa. While some, such as Başoba , have populations exceeding 500, others are dominated by smaller , more dispersed communities.

The overall population decline observed in the district over the last fifteen years is primarily due to the migration of young people to larger cities in search of education and employment opportunities. While seasonal mobility and temporary employment opportunities based on agricultural labor have led to short- term population fluctuations , a downward trend is observed in the permanent population. The sex ratio is largely balanced, and the average age of the population is rising due to low birth rates and increasing life expectancy .

These demographic developments necessitate the adoption of new approaches in service delivery and infrastructure planning. Regulations are needed to facilitate access to healthcare, education, and social services, particularly for older people living in rural areas. At the same time, developing employment policies that support the young population and improve local economic opportunities is crucial for maintaining the district's demographic balance and ensuring the sustainability of regional development .

Economy

Hopa's economic structure is shaped around two main axes : agricultural production carried out in the fertile agricultural lands extending from the coast to the 400–600 meter altitude band, and transportation and trade activities developing around Hopa Port and the Sarp Border Gate .

Despite the region's mountainous topography, arable agricultural land is suitable for the local climate. From the coastline to the interior, tea and hazelnut orchards, citrus, kiwi , and black grape vineyards are located. Mechanized farming is not possible in much of the land, so agricultural production is largely labor -intensive and relies on traditional methods. Corn and various vegetables are also grown in the valleys.

Livestock farming has not developed on a commercial scale due to topographic limitations. Cattle and sheep farming , poultry farming, and beekeeping are generally maintained at a level sufficient to meet household needs. However, fishing activities along the Black Sea coast are important for both local consumption and the regional aquaculture trade .

Industrial activity in the district is limited. Three tea factories, one flour mill, and a thermal power plant owned by the Turkish Electricity Transmission Company (TEİAŞ) operate in the region. Storage and distribution facilities owned by KBİAŞ and POAŞ also contribute to the district's logistics . The tea factories process local produce for regional and national markets, while the flour mill supports grain processing capacity in the region.

^{Hopa Stream ( TC Hopa District Governorship )}

Hopa Port occupies a central position in the district's commercial infrastructure. As the only port capable of handling containers on the eastern Black Sea coast, Hopa Port offers a variety of port services with its approximately 100,000 square meters of space and modern loading and unloading equipment. Located approximately 15 kilometers from the Sarp Border Gate, the port is a key logistics hub not only for maritime transportation but also for overland transit trade .

The Hopa Customs Directorate, operating within the Sarp Customs Area, and the Sarp Customs Directorate operate in coordination with a total of 154 personnel. The Sarp Civil Administrative Office coordinates customs procedures. This structure supports Hopa's role in regional trade by ensuring the smooth operation of import and export processes.

As a result, Hopa's economy combines labor-intensive agriculture, small-scale livestock farming and fishing, limited industrial production, and a well-developed logistics and cross-border trade infrastructure. The development of port and customs capacities increases the district's influence in the national economy, while agricultural and seafood-based know -how ensures the continuity of the local socioeconomic structure.

Tourism, Culture and Cuisine

Hopa and its surrounding area, thanks to its natural beauty, climatic characteristics, and geopolitical location, host a variety of tourism activities . The district's main tourism areas and activities include:

Bird Watching: The mountainous areas around Hopa are located on the migration routes of migratory birds and allow for bird watching between March and November .

Kaçkar Mountain Range: Located on the Rize-Hopa border, the Kaçkar range offers suitable conditions for mountaineering and nature sports with its peaks Altıparmak (3,480 m), Kavran (3,932 m) and Verçenik (3,710 m).

River Tourism: Water sports such as canoeing and rafting are organized on the Çoruh River, located in areas close to the district , and these activities are considered within the scope of adventure tourism.

Cultural activities such as folk dances , local music, traditional instrument use, handicrafts, and folk architecture are ongoing in the district . These elements are part of the cultural fabric defined throughout Artvin.

Hopa cuisine is part of Artvin's regional culinary culture and includes a variety of local dishes. The most prominent dishes in the local cuisine are as follows:

• Dishes made from milk and dairy products: Cheese kuymak, kaymak kuymak.
• Dishes made from vegetables and wild herbs: mountain beet, bird meal, gımı, wild purslane, mallow; also stuffed vegetables prepared with fresh vine leaves and cabbage; dried bean dish called “Puçuko”.
• Pastries: Laz pastry, katmer, noodles, hınkal, çergebaz, bişi, lokum.
• Meat dishes: Winter roast, kebabs prepared on wooden skewers.
• Grain dishes: Keskek, gendima, herisa, şilav.
• Desserts: Hasuta, kaysefe, zurbiyet, honey delight.
• Soups: Püşürük soup, ayran soup, tutmaç soup, onion harşosu, chinchar soup.