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Canakkale
Town in northwestern Turkey with 70,000 inhabitants (2004 estimate) on the Dardanelles, the narrow passage between the Sea of Marmara and the Aegan Sea, at the mouth of the Koca River. It is the capital of Canakkale province with 460,000 inhabitants (2004 estimate).
Today Canakkale is one of the chief centres of the Turkish fish-canning industry. It is also has activities with its strategic location controlling the Dardanelles.
Canakkale is connected to urban centres in the Asian parts of Turkey by road, and to the European parts by boats first to the town of Eceabat, and from there by roads. There are also boats to the Aegan islands of Gökceada and Bozcaada. Edremit is 120 km southeast, Gelibolu 50 km north (including boat), Balikesir 200 km southeast and Bursa 300 km east.
The town has its name from its most known activity, pottery. "Canak" is "pottery" and "kale" is "castle". This production was huge in the 18th and 19th centuries, but today it is almost all gone.
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By: Tore Kjeilen
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