YUKSEKOVA AND ITS HISTORY
Yüksekova has a surface area of 291 km2. It is separated into two geographical areas. The plain part is 420 thousand decares. The second part is the mountainous part. The altitude of the district is 1950 metres. The climate shows terrestrial characteristics. There are 53 villages in Yüksekova and 106 hamlets in these villages. There are 9 mukhtars in the central district of Yüksekova, while 3 mukhtars each in the towns of Esendere and Buyukciftlik. Unemployment poses a problem in the district due to migration. The means of livelihood depends on bovine breeding in the plain villages, and ovine breeding in the mountainous villages.
Furthermore, fodder plant growing is also practiced. It is known that continuous settlement in the historical town of Yüksekova goes back to 7000s BC and the Urartian civilisation lived in Yüksekova during the 1000s. The district experienced invasion by the Russians at the end of the World War I, while it was liberated on 5 May 1918 as a result of the district’s Militia Forces with the support of the army. Historical civilisations including Hurrians, Persians and Urartians reigned over here. Still today, Dara, the village of the King Darius, has remnants in a mound within the borders of our district. The headstone, stelae found in the village of Kelyasin and Uluyol, and the stones in the shape of a goat found in the village of Güclü belong to the Urartians, and also remnants from the cultural and holy Musasir (Aldier) town of the Urartians are presently located in Derav between Kadikoy and Buyukciftlik. The most lasting remnants of the Urartian civilisation is the Ordu road. There are inscriptions written in the Urartian language on the Kelyasin and Uluyol stelae and monuments on the Ordu road, and the most accurate information about this civilisation were obtained from these inscriptions. The west of the district has a large city and castle remnants in the mouth of the Avis stream. In today’s Yuksekova, the social structure of the people is still based on tribalism, while the Pinyanisi, Doskri, Diri, Oramar and Ertosi tribes constitute the majority. It is definitely known that the continuous settlement in the historical town of Yuksekova goes back to 7000s BC.
The Urartian civilisation lived in the region around 1000 BC. Yuksekova, whose ancient name was Gever, was added to the Ottoman territories during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent. The district experienced invasion by the Russians at the end of the World War I, while it was liberated on 5 May 1918 thanks to the district’s Militia Forces and the army. Yuksekova was the township of Hakkari under the province of Van in the 19th century and became a district in 1936. The ancient name of the central district was Dize. Total population of Yuksekova is 102,039 according to the census conducted in 2000. 59,662 people live in the central district, while 42,377 live in the villages. The population increase is higher than other settlement areas. The surface area of Yuksekova is 2291 km2. It is separated into two geographical areas. The plain part is 200,000 decares, while 30,000 of this part is swamp. The second part is mountainous. Yuksekova has an altitude of 1950 m. The climate shows terrestrial characteristics. The winters are harsh and long. The snow that falls by the end of October doesn’t disappear until the end of April.
There are 49 villages in Yüksekova and 106 hamlets in these villages. However, the majority of the population in the villages and hamlets has migrated to the central district due to terrorism. Unemployment poses a problem in the district due to migration. The livelihoods depend on livestock, especially bovine breeding. Agricultural production is low. There are two flour factories and one dairy factory in the district. The most lasting historical remnants of the Urartian civilisation is the Ordu road.
This road extends from Yuksekova Kelisin Gate to Van. There are inscriptions written in the Urartian language on the Kelyasin and Topzava stelae and monuments on the Ordu road, and the most accurate information about this civilization were obtained from these inscriptions. The Buyukciftlik town (Hiravat) remnants are the large city and castle remnants in the mouth of the Avis stream to the west of Yuksekova. This is considered to be Musasir, an important Urartian city. Furthermore, there are churches carved in the stones during the 11th century near the Derav Valley and Gagevran Village. The inner walls are ornated with paintings depicting the life of Jesus Christ and alcoves. It is 80 km away from the central district. More than a thousand paintings were found in the CIE HANDEV ADE Hill in the GEVEROK valley carved in the stones. These paintings are dated to the NEOLOTIC age due to their structural characteristics.
The Urartian civilisation lived in this region in 1000 BC. Lasting traces of this civilisation were found in the famous ORDU road within the borders of the district. This road starts from TUSBA (ancient name of the province of Van) near the shores of Lake Van, which was the center of the URARTIAN kingdom, extending to CILO Mountains. There are inscriptions written in Urartian language on the GELYASIN and TOPUZAVA monuments on the Ordu road, and the most accurate information about this civilisation were obtained from these inscriptions. The Buyukciftlik (Hiravat) Village remnants are the large city and castle remnants in the mouth of the Orise stream to the west of Yuksekova. This is considered to be Musasir, an important Urartian city. Yuksekova, whose ancient name was GEVER, was added to the Ottoman territories during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent. The Russians invaded Yuksekova during the World War I. (24 May 1915) They brought Mar Shimun, a Nestorian leader to HOY. They caused all Nestorians to revolt with his help and used them against the Turkish army. The Muslim people in the region ran away from the Russian and Nestorian violence and were scattered in 1915. On 5 May 1919, the local militia forces and our glorious army liberated Yuksekova, and the rebellious Nestorians withdrew to Urumiye (Iran’s neighbouring province of Yuksekova). Yuksekova was the township of Hakkari under the province of Van in the 19th century and became a district in 1936. The ancient name of the central district was Dize. .