Kemalpaşa is a district of Artvin Province in northeastern Türkiye. Located on the Black Sea coast, the district has a surface area of 67,637 km² and a population of 8,786; it is known for Kemalpaşa Beach and the surrounding area along its coastline.
Kemalpaşa ( Source: Sabah )
History
The established history of Kemalpaşa begins with the arrival of the Scythians in the region in 680 BC. Byzantine invasions occurred around 415 BC, and traces of this period can be observed in the remains of early defensive structures and the acropolis. Kemalpaşa (then known as Makriyali), which came under Ottoman rule during the governorship of Trabzon by Yavuz Sultan Selim between 1490 and 1512, briefly fell under the control of the Safavids and Georgian principalities. However, in 1509, along with Hopa and its surroundings, it was incorporated into the Ottoman borders and became part of the Ottoman line of dominion extending to the Southwestern Caucasus.
In 1551, Artvin and its surrounding area were reorganized as the Sanjak of Ardanuç, which was later transformed into the Sanjak of Livana. With the establishment of the Çıldır Province by Lala Mustafa Pasha in 1578, Kemalpaşa was annexed to this new province, centered in Ahıska. Following the Treaty of Edirne in 1829, it was incorporated into the Sanjak of Batumi, along with the Ahıska region, which had been seized by Tsarist Russia.
Following the 1877–1878 Russo-Turkish War, Kemalpaşa, along with the district of Hopa, was incorporated into the Rize Sanjak with the Kars-Ardahan Agreement. The region was invaded again by Russia in 1915; the local population resisted within the framework of the Special Organization. Following the withdrawal of Russian troops, the occupation officially ended with the Erzincan Armistice of December 18, 1917.
Following the Russian withdrawal, British forces occupied the region on December 17, 1918, and soon handed it over to Georgian rule. An ultimatum was sent to Georgia on February 22, 1921, ensuring the transfer of the region to Türkiye. Kemalpaşa was definitively incorporated into Turkish territory on March 14, 1921.
Kemalpaşa, which existed as a sub-district center affiliated with Hopa in the early years of the Republic, remained an administrative unit of Hopa district, which was annexed to Artvin province in 1936. It was governed as a sub-district organization until 1987, after which it was converted to village status and administered under the headman system. With the law enacted in 2017, it regained district status and established its current administrative structure as one of Artvin's new coastal districts.
Geography and Climate
Located at the northwestern tip of Artvin Province, between latitude 41.481274°N and longitude 41.528950°E, Kemalpaşa district covers an area of 74 km². The district borders Georgia to the north, Borçka to the east, Hopa to the south, and the Black Sea to the west. The district center, approximately 4 km from the Sarp border gate, is also south of the E-70 international highway and approximately 76 km from Artvin city center by road.
In the "Geographical Structure of the Planning Area" section of the 1/5000 scale Zoning Plan, the land use in the immediate surroundings of the planning area is defined as wooded area, sandy beach, and rocky/stony areas. This classification refers to the presence of rugged, forested slopes rising just beyond the narrow coastal corridor.
The climate is warm-temperate (Cfa) due to the moderating influence of the Black Sea. Average annual precipitation is 732 mm, with the highest precipitation occurring between December and January, and the lowest in August. The warmest month was August, with an average temperature of 17.1 °C, and the coldest month, January, with −0.6 °C. This climatic regime allows for the formation of narrow plains dissected by streams, as well as woodland (a mixture of red pine and oak) covering the sandy and rocky areas along the coastline. On the other hand, sudden rainfall on steep slopes constantly poses the risk of erosion and landslides.
Population‑Demography
According to the 1990 census, the town center of Kemalpaşa had a population of 2,650, but by 2000, this number had risen to 4,124. During the same period, the total population, including the surrounding villages, was recorded as 8,729. This increase between these two periods reflects the nationwide trend of rural-to-urban migration, as well as the diversification of economic activities in the region.
After 2000, the opening of a state-owned tea factory and two privately owned tea factories in the town center increased the demand for labor in the region, leading to a steady influx of migrants from surrounding provinces and districts. The concentration of tea production during six months of the year led to an increase in the number of temporary and seasonal workers, while the short distance to the Sarp Border Gate increased trade and transit passenger traffic, adding dynamism to the town's population.
During the summer months, visitors from inland provinces arriving for day trips or camping purposes revitalize Kemalpaşa's accommodation and service sector with the start of the beach season. Furthermore, as students and workers in major cities return to visit family and relatives during the summer months, the town center's population increases significantly during this period.
Return migration following natural disasters also plays a significant role in the town's demographics. Earthquakes in recent years, in particular, have triggered a segment of citizens to migrate first to major cities and then resettle in Kemalpaşa. As a result of all these factors, the population fluctuates by approximately 15,000 people during the summer months, including residents of towns and villages, as well as visitors.
According to 2018 data from the Turkish Statistical Institute, Kemalpaşa has a permanent (residential) population of 8,786. Settlement is concentrated primarily along the coastal beaches and valley plains; the central neighborhoods and the residential areas along the coast constitute the town's demographic center. This permanent population, along with those employed in the industrial and service sectors, forms the town's social and economic fabric.
Economy
Kemalpaşa's economy consists of a variety of activities that combine its geographical location and natural resources. Home to the Sarp Border Gate, one of the most important land connections between Türkiye and Georgia, the district plays a key role in both road transport and border trade.
Border trade at the Sarp Border Gate was revitalized thanks to tax exemptions granted under the Border and Coastal Trade Agreement signed in 1989, directly contributing to the Kemalpaşa economy by increasing the income of local tradespeople. According to 2012 data, 2,560,567 passengers entered the gate, and 2,577,915 departed. This heavy traffic led to an increase in both passenger and freight transport, expanding logistics businesses within the district.
Kemalpaşa stands out in agricultural production with 834 tea gardens, according to the 2020 Activity Report of the Artvin Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry. Tea gardens cover 10,501.6 decares of land, while 10,184.1 decares are cultivated, making Kemalpaşa one of the top five districts in the province. This density creates a value chain extending from production to export through dry tea facilities and cooperatives.
Vegetable and fruit farming is second only to tea. Traditional crops, primarily corn, potatoes, and beans, are grown in the district's valley plains extending from the coast. The mild microclimate also allows for kiwifruit production.
Livestock farming in Kemalpaşa is predominantly family-run. As of 2020, the district registered 1,331 head of cattle, including 970 cattle and 365 calves, and 33,842 small cattle, including 32,326 sheep and 1,516 goats. This figure demonstrates that local producers are capable of raising livestock for both beef and dairy production.
All of these activities, combined with the logistical advantages of the Sarp Gate, have attracted small-scale industrial investments to Kemalpaşa. The establishment of agriculturally based industrial and transportation companies in the region has increased employment for tradespeople and workers, while also supporting the development of non-agricultural income sources.
Tourism – Culture – Cuisine
The Kemalpaşa district is located in a region where the flat coastline of the Black Sea meets the narrow valley corridors. Included among the "Municipalities of Tourism Importance" by Ministry of Interior decree number 1222 dated October 27, 1994, the district offers areas suitable for both land and sea tourism with its clean and quiet natural environment.
Kemalpaşa Beach is the most important spot open to caravan and camping tourism. Accessible by concrete and stabilized roads, this coastal area offers day-trip camping and caravan stays during the summer months despite its lack of infrastructure. The limited availability of accommodations in the area means that visitors often plan day trips.
The Hopa-Kemalpaşa line within the district's borders forms a natural migration corridor for migrating bird flocks from Russia and the Caucasus. High-altitude observation stations established at Cefrika (1,050 m), Fırın Düzü (1,080 m), and Sultan Selim Hill (980 m) allow for monitoring of migratory and raptor birds between August 15 and November 15 each year.
Historic passageways and military ruins reflect the district's cultural diversity. Mountain passes dating back to the Seljuk period and coastal roads built by Tsarist Russia contain an abandoned German tank from World War I. The district's only registered church and three arched bridges are protected as cultural assets by the Trabzon Conservation Board.
The tradition of handicrafts was carried out in the past in the form of woodworking, rug weaving with root dyes, and basket weaving; although metal containers are used instead of baskets today, traces of woodworking can still be found in the repair of wooden houses and in local decoration.
Livestock farming is carried out on both small and large-scale farms, with the tradition of shepherding passed down through generations through master-apprentice relationships. Seasonal grazing (transhumance) practices carried out in the highlands during the summer months contribute both to the diversification of local livelihoods and the viability of highland tourism potential.
The local cuisine includes cheese kuymak and kaymak kuymak, prepared from milk and dairy products; vegetable dishes made with mountain herbs; pastries such as Laz böreği, katmer, and noodle soup; kavurma (fried meat) and shish kebab; grain dishes such as keşkek and şilav; hasuta and honeyed Turkish delight desserts; püşürük (a type of yogurt with a twist), ayran (a type of yogurt with a twist), and çinçar soup. These delicacies are often served to guests at local family-run businesses, using seasonal produce.
Kemalpaşa's natural and cultural assets create a holistic value proposition for green tourism, cultural tourism, and highland tourism. Projects addressing infrastructure deficiencies, increasing accommodation capacity, and developing projects that maintain a balance between conservation and use will sustainably activate the region's tourism potential.
