HISTORY

Archaeological excavations made in Lerdüge Tumuli east of Havza indicate that the town dates back to around 100 BC. Romans and byzantines are known to have lived there. It changed hands several times between kings and princes because of its spas with healing waters and was conquered by ottomans in 1430. In 1992, it became a sub-prefecture and attached to Samsun in 1925.

GEOGRAPHY

The town is 86 kilometres from Samsun and encircled by Bafra, Ladik, Kavak, Suluova, Merzifon and Vezirköprü clockwise from the north. The most important streams are Denizözü, and Istavruz and Tersakan.

CLIMATE

Continental climate prevails in the town established on a valley slope. Summers are cool, however, because of its altitude while winters are cold and often snowy. Northern winds prevail in winter and south-eastern ones are frequent in summer.

SOCIO -ECONOMIC STRUCTURE

Havza's economy is predominantly agricultural. Wheat and sugar beets are the main products and animal-raising, because of availability of molasses from sugar factory, is rather expanded. Inhabitants of forest villages carve a living from forestry products. Lignite is extraced from mines in Çeltek. Finally, tourism has begun to play, an increasing role in bolstering the local economy.

TRANSPORTS

Havza is a sub-prefecture on Samsun-Ankara interstate highway and its distance to Samsun is 86 kilometres. Vehicles ply between Samsun and Havza round the clock.

SIGHTSEEING

Five tumuli were discovered at Lerdüge village, some 20 kilometres east of Havza. Architectural techniques used there place them between 100 BC and 200 AD. Walls of burial chambers have human and animal figures and golden jewellery, bronze oil lamps and various vials were left with the corpses.

There are sixteen mounds which are yet to be excavated in the sub-prefecture.

Mosques, hospices, shrines, spas and bathhouses from fifteenth century are among buildings worth seeing.

An Atatürk memorial and culture festival is held every year on 25 may. It becomes the stage of wrestling matches, horseback polo games and many folkloric and cultural manifestations.

OVERNIGHTING AND MEALS

Hotels, motels and boarding houses catering for all budgets serve the visitors. Five of the hotels, with a total of 250 beds, have also spas in them. Around 150 houses ofter beds to tourists in the summer months. The spas are visited by around 750.000 persons every year.

Town's restaurants offer the wheat grout with lamb and pasta among the other dishes