Şile

Şile is a municipality and district of Istanbul Province, Turkey. Its area is 800 km2, and its population is 43,464 (2022). Bordering Şile is the province of Kocaeli (districts of Gebze, Körfez, Derince, Kandıra) to the east and south, and Istanbul districts of Pendik to the south, Çekmeköy to the southwest, and Beykoz to the west. The popular resort town Ağva is also a part of Şile. However, between June and September, the population rapidly increases because of the many residents of Istanbul who have summer houses in Şile.
History
The word şile means marjoram in Turkish. The word's etymology is said to be Greek.
There has been a fishing village here since 700 BC and a lighthouse since the Ottoman period. According to the Ottoman General Census of 1881/82-1893, the kaza of Şile had a total population of 16.770, consisting of 10.314 Muslims, 6.447 Greeks, 3 Armenians and 6 foreign citizens. The boundaries of Şile were expanded by the addition of the village of Esenceli from Beykoz district in 1989.
Composition
There are 62 neighbourhoods in Şile District:
Ağaçdere
Ağva Merkez
Ahmetli
Akçakese
Alacalı
Avcıkoru
Balibey
Bıçkıdere
Bozgoca
Bucaklı
Çataklı
Çavuş
Çayırbaşı
Çelebi
Çengilli
Darlık
Değirmençayırı
Doğancılı
Erenler
Esenceli
Geredeli
Göçe
Gökmaşlı
Göksu
Hacı Kasım
Hacıllı
Hasanlı
İmrendere
İmrenli
İsaköy
Kabakoz
Kadıköy
Kalem
Karabeyli
Karacaköy
Karakiraz
Karamandere
Kervansaray
Kızılca
Kömürlük
Korucu
Kumbaba
Kurfallı
Kurna
Meşrutiyet
Oruçoğlu
Osmanköy
Ovacık
Sahilköy
Satmazlı
Sofular
Soğullu
Sortullu
Şuayipli
Teke
Ulupelit
Üvezli
Yaka
Yaylalı
Yazımanayır
Yeniköy
Yeşilvadi
Features
Şile is famous for its beaches. However, it is at the northernmost point of Istanbul and thus shares the same sea conditions as other Black Sea towns where strong sea undercurrents can be dangerous to inexperienced swimmers. Beachgoers drown here annually on a regular basis. The north-facing Black Sea has a much shorter holiday season than the Aegean, the Mediterranean or even the Marmara, due to the relatively colder winters.
Şile Castle is a 14th-century Genoese castle on an island in Şile. The castle was renovated in 2015, sparking criticism that the work had made it resemble the cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants or an illustration from the video game Minecraft.
The tomb of a Muslim saint, Kum Baba, is on a tree-covered hill above Şile. Along the coast near Şile, in the village of Kızılcaköy, is a cave which, according to a local myth, is said to be the scene of events in the Anabasis of Xenophon.
Şile is also known for Şile cloth, a crimped-looking, light, see-through cotton fabric, made on the Şile coast, sold in many shops in the town and sent to the bazaars of Istanbul. A fair is held in the town to promote Şile cloth every summer.
The largest campus of Işık University is located in Şile.
Transport
Şile is a part of Istanbul public transport system (İETT). There is a bus from Harem via Üsküdar (located at the Anatolian side of Istanbul) to Şile (İETT Lines 139 and 139A).
Climate
Şile's climate, typical of northern Istanbul, is oceanic (Cfb) according to the Köppen climate classification, but the Trewartha climate classification classifies it as humid subtropical, similarly to the Bosphorus coast. Şile's climate is marked by high precipitation and milder summers than most of Istanbul. It is in plant hardiness zone 8b, and AHS heat zone 2.
Twin towns – sister cities
Şile is twinned with:
Idstein, Germany
Barcaldin, Australia
Cazin, Bosnia and Herzegovina
References
Sources
Hürel, Haldun. Semtleri, Mahalleri, Caddeleri ve Sokakları A'dan Z'ye İstanbul'un Alfabetik Öyküsü. İstanbul, 2008. .
External links
Işık University
Şile Municipality
Şile Port - Tourist Information
A firm manufacturing Şile bezi
Şile 75. Yıl Elementary School
Populated places in Istanbul Province
Fishing communities in Turkey
Populated coastal places in Turkey
Seaside resorts in Turkey
Tourist attractions in Istanbul Province
Metropolitan district municipalities in Turkey
Districts of Istanbul Province