Kurtalan is a district of Siirt province of Türkiye. Drawing attention with its history, geographical location, economic structure and transportation possibilities, this district is one of the important settlement centers of the region.

Historical Development

Kurtalan was located within the lands of Şerefhan Principality in the 1500s and was included within the borders of the Ottoman Empire during this period. Kurtalan, which was one of the old districts of Siirt with the name of “Garzan” before, is known for its settlement changing several times throughout history. Its name was changed to “Kurtalan” with a law enacted in 1938 and its center was determined as Mısrıç Village. In 1944, when the railway line reached Mısrıç Village, the district center was moved here.

The geographical location of the district is surrounded by Siirt Province in the east, Beşiri in the west, Eruh in the southeast and Hasankeyf districts in the southwest. Its natural borders are drawn by Başur Stream in the east, Garzan Stream in the west and Botan Stream in the south. The total surface area of ​​the district is 669.25 km² and the altitude is 670 meters. The population density is 145 people per square kilometer. Among the important rivers within the borders of the district are the Başur Stream, which is 60 km long, and the Garzan Stream, which is 100 km long. The Reşan Stream and the Garzan Stream merge near Çattepe Village. In addition, there is an irrigation pond built by the State Hydraulic Works (DSİ) in Ekinli Village and by the Provincial Directorate of Rural Services in Yayıklı Village.

Economic Situation

Kurtalan's economy is largely based on agriculture; in mountainous regions, animal husbandry is an important source of income. Among agricultural products, cereals (wheat, barley and lentils) dominate, and in recent years, a partial increase in cotton production has been observed. Farmer families generally engage in dairy farming to meet their own needs and for small amounts of commercial purposes. In addition, small-scale livestock farming is also common. With the increase in agricultural credits, the use of artificial fertilizers has also increased. The establishment that draws attention in the industrial area in the district is the cement factory that started production in 1984. In addition, the Soil Products Office Agency Directorate has been operating since 1952. However, despite two major public investments such as the cement factory and the Tekel Yaprak Tobacco Enterprise Directorate, business and working life have not reached sufficient vitality. Economic activities in the region are mostly limited to the agricultural sector.

Transportation

Kurtalan has an advantageous location in terms of transportation. There is no settlement without a road or inaccessible within the administrative borders of the district. There is a Station Chief Office affiliated with the State Railways in the district center. In addition, the train line known as the Kurtalan Express has an important place in the transportation history of the district. According to information dated June 20, 2019, the Kurtalan Express started its services 21 years after the foundation of the Republic of Türkiye and carries passengers at more than 70 stops on its 1212-kilometer route from Ankara to Kurtalan. Passing through cities such as Kırıkkale, Kayseri, Sivas, Malatya, Elazığ, Diyarbakır and Batman, this line is completed in a 23-hour journey and offers a visual feast to its passengers. This train line, which also gave its name to the music group founded by the late artist Barış Manço in 1972, is one of the oldest railway lines in Türkiye.

Population

According to the 2019 (probably 2019) census, the total population of Kurtalan is 60,180 people. 30,628 of this population are male and 29,552 are female. Kurtalan continues to exist as one of the prominent districts of Siirt with its historical past, agriculture-based economy and strategic transportation connections.