HISTORY

Ladik is believed to have a past going back to 3000 BC. It was used as a settlement also by the hittites. Persians were here between 550 to 332 BC and expanded toward Black Sea where they formed the Pontus Kingdom.

This was followed by the roman and later by the byzantine rule. Selchuks and ottomans as their successors were the latest powers in the region.

Ladik was attached to Samsun in 1925 as a sub-prefecture.

GEOGRAPHY

Ladik is bordered by Samsun in the north, Taşova in the east, Suluova in the south and Havza in the west. Its surface area is 552 square kilometres and altitude is 950 metres.

The Ladik lake, a 5 by 2 kilometre water body, is fed by streams from Akdağ mountain. The main stream of the region is Tersakan river.

CLIMATE

Ladik has a semi-continental climate with long and cold winters and relatively short and cool summers. Snows abound in the winter while the other seasons receive an abundant rain.

SOCIO -ECONOMIC STRUCTURE

Economy is mainly agricultural with wheat, barley, oats, maize, sunflowers, sugar beets, fruits and vegetables as main products. Animal-raising, fishing and apiculture are also practised.

Carpet-weaving made the Ladik carpets world-famous.

TRANSPORTATION

There is no access problem to Ladik from Samsun, to which it is connected by a 82 kilometre black-topped road.

SIGHTSEEING

Though the earliest settlement dates back to the third millennium BC, sufficient archaeological studies have not been made. A large number of mounds and tumuli still await to be explored.

A watch tower, several mosques, chapels and shrines in various degrees of dilapidation deserve to be seen while Ladik's spas, known from time immemorial with their healing properties, still attract visitors from within the country and abroad. The traditional Ladik fair is held every year in june with a variety of sport and cultural activities draws visitors from everywhere.

OVERNIGHTING AND MEALS

Several hotels within the town and many spas offer overnighting service to the visitors. Restaurants cater to all tourists with local roast varieties and pastries.