The Aegean region (Turkish: Ege Bölgesi) is one of the 7 geographical regions of Turkey. The largest city in the region is İzmir. Other big cities are Manisa, Aydın, Denizli, Muğla, Afyonkarahisar and Kütahya.
Located in western Turkey, it is bordered by the Aegean Sea to the west, the Marmara region to the north, the Central Anatolia Region to the east, and the Mediterranean Region to the south.
Aydın (/ˈaɪdɪn/ EYE-din; Turkish: [ˈajdɯn]; formerly named Güzelhisar; Greek: Τράλλεις [ˈtra.lis]) is a city in and the seat of Aydın Province in Turkey's Aegean Region. The city is located at the heart of the lower valley of Büyük Menderes River (ancient Meander River) at a commanding position for the region extending from the uplands of the valley down to the seacoast. The city forms the urban part of the Efeler district, with a population of 259,027 in 2022. Aydın city is located along a region which was famous for its fertility and productivity since ancient times. Figs remain the province's best-known crop, although other agricultural products are also grown intensively and the city has some light industry.
At the crossroads of a busy transport network of several types, a six-lane motorway connects Aydın to İzmir, Turkey's second port, in less than an hour, and in still less time to the international Adnan Menderes Airport, located along the road between the two cities. A smaller airport, namely Aydın Airport, is located a few kilometers in the South-East of Aydın. The region of Aydın also pioneered the introduction of railways into Turkey in the 19th century and still has the densest railroad network.
Yeşilova Höyük is a höyük (tell) in the Bornova district of İzmir, Turkey, and is the oldest known prehistoric human settlement in the area of İzmir. It was occupied continuously from roughly 6500 to 4000 BC, and was covered with silt afterwards.
Discovered in 2003, the site has been explored since 2005 by a team under the direction of Associate Professor Zafer Derin of Ege University. By 2005, important new light had been shed on the Neolithic-Chalcolithic phases of İzmir's metropolitan area in particular and of Turkey's Aegean Region in general.
Acıgöl (literally "the bitter lake" in Turkish) is a lake in Turkey's inner Aegean Region, in an endorheic basin at the junction between the provinces of Denizli, Afyonkarahisar, and Burdur. Its surface area varies greatly through the seasons, from 100 km (39 sq mi) in spring to 35 km (14 sq mi) in late summer. The lake has a maximum depth of 1.63 m (5.3 ft), with the surface elevation 836 m (2,743 ft) above sea level. It is notable for its reserves of sodium sulfate, used extensively in industry, and it is the site of Turkey's largest commercial sodium sulfate production operation. The lake lies 60 km (37 mi) east of Denizli city. From west to east, the lake's surrounding districts and towns are Bozkurt, Çardak, Dazkırı and Başmakçı.
The lake is fed primarily by high-sulfate springs issuing from a fault line on its south side. The lake is estimated to contain 12.5 million metric tons (12.3×10 long tons) of sodium sulfate on the surface and in the subsurface brine, with probable total reserves of 70 million metric tons (69×10 long tons) and possible reserves of 82 million metric tons (81×10 long tons). The yearly production rate in the late 1990s was 100,000 t (98,000 long tons), all from private sector companies.
Dinar (Ancient Greek: Κελαιναί-Ἀπάμεια, romanized: Kelainaí-Apámeia,) is a town of Afyonkarahisar Province in the Aegean region of Turkey, 106 km from the city of Afyon. It is the seat of Dinar District. Its population is 26,300 (2021). The mayor was Saffet Acar (MHP) between 2019 and 2024. Veysel Topçu of CHP became the mayor of the town in the local election held on 31 March 2024.
The town is built amidst the ruins of Celaenae-Apamea, near the sources of the Büyük Menderes (Maeander) river. In ancient mythology this was the site of the musical duel between Apollo and Marsyas.
Karahallı is a town in Uşak Province in the inner Aegean region of Turkey. It is the seat of Karahallı District. Its population is 5,672 (2022). Karahallı is at a distance of 62 km (39 mi) from the province center of Uşak lying to its north.
The name of the town makes reference to its founder, the 14th century Turkmen bey Kara Halil. The township was made into a district in 1953, simultaneous to the separation of Uşak Province from Kütahya Province, and Uşak's becoming a province seat.
Sandıklı is a town of Afyonkarahisar Province in the Aegean region of Turkey. It is the seat of Sandıklı District. Its population is 54,851 (2024). Adnan Öztaş was elected from the AK Party in the 2024 Turkish Local Elections.
Sandıklı is famed for its marble quarries, its dairy cream kaymak, and its Turkish delight. People also come from all over Turkey to bathe in the hot springs and natural mud baths in the district.
Dazkırı is a town of Afyonkarahisar Province in the Aegean region of Turkey, 140 km from the city of Afyon on the road to Denizli. It is the seat of Dazkırı District. Its population is 5,640 (2021). The climate in the district is hot and dry in summer, and cold and wet in winter. The former mayor is İsmail Taylan (CHP). He was replaced by Fatih Çiçek from AKP in the local election on 31 March 2024.