Titular bishop of Tarsus
| Tarsus | |
|---|---|
 Tarsus
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| Coordinates: 36°55′00″N 34°53′44″E / 36.91667°N 34.89556°ECoordinates: 36°55′00″N 34°53′44″E / 36.91667°N 34.89556°E | |
| Country | Turkey |
| Province | Mersin |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Şevket Can (MHP) |
| • Kaymakam | Mehmet Gödekmerdan |
| Area | |
| • District | 2,019.43 km2 (779.71 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 23 m (75 ft) |
| Population (2012) | |
| • Urban | 245,671 |
| • District | 318,615 |
| • District density | 160/km2 (410/sq mi) |
| Website | www.tarsus.bel.tr |
Tarsus (/ˈtɑːrsəs/; Hittite: Tarsa; Greek: Ταρσός; Armenian: Տարսոն, Hebrew: תרשיש, Arabic: طَرَسُوس) is a historic city in south-central Turkey, 20 km inland from the Mediterranean. It is part of the Adana-Mersin Metropolitan Area, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in Turkey with a population of 3 million people. Tarsus forms an administrative district in the eastern part of the Mersin Province and lies in the core of Çukurova region.
With a history going back over 6,000 years, Tarsus has long been an important stop for traders and a focal point of many civilisations. During the Roman Empire, Tarsus was the capital of the province of Cilicia. It was the scene of the first meeting between Mark Antony and Cleopatra, and the birthplace of Paul the Apostle.
Located on the mouth of the Berdan River (Cydnus in antiquity), which empties into the Mediterranean, Tarsus is a junction point of land and sea routes connecting the Cilician plain (today called Çukurova), central Anatolia and the Mediterranean sea. The climate is typical of the Mediterranean region, with very hot summers and chilly, damp winters.
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