Samandağ

Samandağ,  is a toun an destrict in Hatay Province o soothren Turkey, at the mooth o the Orontes River on the Mediterranean coast, near Turkey's border wi Sirie, 25 km (16 mi) frae the ceety o Antakya. The mayor is Mithat Nehir (ÖDP).

Etymology
Samandağ wis umwhile kent as Samanda, Yukarı Alevışık, Levşiye an Süveydiye an wis offeecially namit Samandağ in 1948. 

History
Samandağ lies near the site of the ancient Seleucia Pieria, founded in 300 BC by Seleucus Nicator a general of Alexander the Great, in the Seleucid era that followed Alexander's demise. Seleucia Pieria quickly became a major Mediterranean port o the Hellenistic an Roman eras, the port o Antioch.  But it wis subject tae siltin an an earthquake in 526 feenally completit its demise as a port. Samandağ, then cried St Symeon,John H. Pryor, Logistics of Warfare in the Age of the Crusades became the port o Antioch, an played an important role in the captur o the ceety bi the Crusaders in 1098.

 Geography 
Samandağ itself is a sma toun o 35,000 fowk, close tae the ceety o Antakya. The local economy depends on fishin an agricultur, especially citrus fruits, an Samandağ haes the air o a kintra mercat toun, wi young men buzzin through the streets on mopeds. Aroond the veelage o Çevlik (derived frae Seleucia) there is a lang sandy coastline popular wi daytrippers frae Antakya, although the sea can be stormy.  This is an important nestin aurie o the endangered sea turtles Caretta caretta. 

 Population 
Besides Turks, Samandağ haes a sizable Arabic speakin population who adhere tae the Alawite sect o Shia Islam.  There are an aw Arab-Aramaic Christian communities in the destrict an the veelage o Vakıflı is Turkey's last remainin rural Armenie community. Poleetically Samandağ is traditionally left-leanin. In the 2009 local elections, Freedom an Solidarity Pairty (ÖDP) candidate Mithat Nehir wis electit mayor o the ilçe (the sole victorious ÖDP candidate in the entire republic).http://yerelsecim2009.hurriyet.com.tr/ilcedetay.aspx?cid=430&bs=1 

 Places o interest 
 The tunnel o Vespasian, in the veelage o Kapısuyu , built as a water channel in the 2nt century. 
 The tomb o the Muslim saunt Hızır.

References

 Freemit airtins 
 Govrenorship o Samandag
 photo album o Samandağ 
 infor on Seleucia Pieria  

Category:Populatit places in Hatay Province