Yusufeli is a district in the mountainous southwestern part of Artvin Province, situated on the rugged topography of the Eastern Black Sea region. The district center and villages are situated along the Çoruh River, which carves deep valleys. One of the defining elements of its geography is that the Çoruh River flows over the Kelkit-Çoruh Fault Zone, irrigating the district's lands. The southwestern foothills of the Kaçkar Mountains, which surround this valley, shape the terrain with steep slopes and precipitous passes.

^{Yusufeli (Source: Anadolu Agency )}

History

According to historical sources, Yusufeli and its surroundings came under Islamic rule, first by communities such as the Cimmerians, Sakas, and Arsaks , and then in 645, when the Islamic army under the command of Habib defeated the Byzantine forces. The region was subsequently incorporated into the borders of the Anatolian Seljuk State. The first district organization was established in 1879 under the name "KİSKİM" ( Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality) under the Erzurum Sanjak. Its center was moved to Ersis in 1889 , and its name was changed to Yusufeli in 1912. Occupied by Russia during the Second Constitutional Era and the First World War, the district was reattached to Artvin in 1926. In 1933, it was incorporated into the Çoruh Province centered in Rize, and again into Artvin in 1936.

Geography – Climate

The district's rugged terrain is distinguished by the narrow passes formed by the Çoruh River valleys and high mountain ranges.

Its surface area is approximately 2,261 km².

According to the data of the General Directorate of Meteorology, Artvin station (1991–2020 normals):

• Annual average temperature: 11.5 °C
• Coldest month: January (average 2.7 °C), warmest month: July (average 20.9 °C)
• Total annual precipitation: 858 mm
• Monthly maximum rainfall: January (85 mm), minimum rainfall: July (31.7 mm)

Population – Demography

According to the 2022 ADNKS results, the district population is 18,854. Of these, 7,204 live in the district center and 11,650 in villages. The female-male distribution of the total population is balanced: 9,338 females and 9,516 males.

Economy

• Livestock and dairy products: Highland livestock farming and small and large cattle breeding are common in the district.
• Energy production: The Yusufeli Dam and HEPP project, which opened on November 22, 2022, has an installed capacity of 558 MW and can generate approximately 1.9 billion kWh of electricity annually. The project has also led to changes in transportation infrastructure.

Tourism – Culture – Cuisine

The main tourism activities are:

• Cultural and religious tourism
• Plateau tourism and festivals
• River tourism (canoeing, rafting)
• Mountain and nature hiking, camping and caravan activities
• Sport fishing, bird watching, horseback riding, botanical excursions
• Visits to protected areas and national parks

Events such as village and plateau festivals, karakucak wrestling and bull fighting, held between May and July , are prominent in the district .

Yusufeli cuisine includes examples of dishes from the Artvin region:

• Dairy products (cheese pudding, clotted cream pudding)
• Dishes prepared with mountain herbs (mountain beet, bird meal, wild purslane)
• Pastries (Laz pastry, katmer, noodles, hınkal, çergebaz)
• Meat dishes (wood shish kebab, kavurma, keşkek)
• Soups and desserts (püşürük, ayran, tutmaç, onion harşosu, hasuta, kaysefe, honey lokum)

Special Case: Resettlement

With the start of the Yusufeli Dam's impoundment on November 22 , 2022 , the district center and seven villages (Yeniköy, Tekkale, Irmakyanı, Çeltikdüzü, Çevreli, İşhan, and Meşecik) were relocated to new settlement areas. The residents of these villages have been residing in these new areas for approximately one year.