Güdül

Güdül
Güdül
District
	A natural scene from Güdül
	Location of Güdül within Turkey.
	Güdül Location of Güdül within Turkey.
	Coordinates: 40°12′40″N 32°14′34″E / 40.21111°N 32.24278°ECoordinates: 40°12′40″N 32°14′34″E / 40.21111°N 32.24278°E
Country	Turkey
Region	Central Anatolia
Province	Ankara Province
Government
• Governor	Ekrem Canalp
• Mayor	Hüseyin Erdoğan (AKP)
Area
• District	383.65 km2 (148.13 sq mi)
Elevation	720 m (2,360 ft)
Population (2012)
• Urban	2,591
• District	8,656
• District density	23/km2 (58/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code	06xxx
Area code(s)	0312
Licence plate	06
Website	www.gudul.gov.tr

Güdül is a rural town and district of Ankara Province in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey, 90 km north-west of the city of Ankara, off the motorway to Istanbul. The district covers an area of 419 km², and the average elevation is 720 m. According to 2010 census, population of the district is 8971 of which 2623 live in the town of Güdül with the majority in the surrounding countryside.^[3]^[4]

Güdül is a mountainous district with a dry climate featuring cold winters (down to -20 °C), hot summers (up to 35 °C) and a little rain in spring and autumn. There is some agriculture and the crops include hot peppers and chick peas, which are dried and sold as leblebi.

History[]

Research shows occupation since prehistoric times, and caves along the river Kirmir contain stone workings apparently by the Hittites (2000 BC). Later the area was occupied by Phrygians, Ancient Romans and Byzantines (one of the caves has a carved cross from the early spread of Christianity under Roman rule).

In 1071, the Byzantine armies were defeated by the Turks at the battle of Malazgirt, and soon afterwards all of central Anatolia came under Turkish control. Güdül was occupied by Seljuk Turks, including the lord of Ankara, Şehabüldevle Güdül Bey.