Payas
| Payas | |
|---|---|
| Town | |
  Payas Location in Turkey | |
| Coordinates: 36°45′N 36°13′E / 36.750°N 36.217°ECoordinates: 36°45′N 36°13′E / 36.750°N 36.217°E | |
| Country |
 Turkey |
| Province | Hatay Province |
| District | Dörtyol |
| Government | |
| • Body | Payas Municipality |
| Elevation | 36 m (118 ft) |
| Population (2012) | |
| • Total | 33,700 |
| Time zone | EET (UTC+2) |
| • Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+3) |
| Area code(s) | 0326 |
Payas (Arabic: بياس , also called Yakacık) is a town in Hatay Province, Turkey.
Geography
Payas is a town in Dörtyol district which is a part of Hatay Province. It is a Mediterranean coastal town situated at about 36°45′N 36°13′E / 36.750°N 36.217°E. Distance to Dörtyol at the north is 12 kilometres (7.5 mi), to İskenderun at the south is 20 kilometres (12 mi) and to Antakya (the province center) is 84 kilometres (52 mi). The population was 33700 as of 2012.[1]
History
Payas and the vicinity had always been inhabited all through the history. Ancient names of the town were Baias and Bayyas. During Byzantine-Sassanid War of 602-628, Payas was one of the theaters of war between Heraclius and Khosrau II. In the second half of the 7th century, Payas became a part of the rising Arabic Empire. Seljuk Turks annexed Payas towards the end of the 11th century. The town was contested over between the Turks and the Byzantines, but was captured by the armies of the First Crusade in 1097. It became part of the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia soon thereafter. In 1268, the region was captured by the Mamluk Sultanate. Later, the town became a part of the Beylik of Dulkadir, and a part of the Ottoman Empire after the campaign of Selim I in 1517. Following a period of short French occupation after the First World War, Payas became a part of Turkey[2] unlike most other parts of the Hatay Province where French occupation continued till 1938, when the rest of Hatay was annexed by Turkey.
Economy
Payas had seems like an agricultural town in the early years of Republic. In the 70’s Payas became an industrial town with establishment of İskenderun Iron and Steel Factory. Today, The Iron and Steel Factory within Payas is Turkey’s 2nd big Iron-Steel factory and it contributes to Turkey’s economy in great scales as well as the organized industry zone, coal enterprises and iron producing mills. Because of this, 70 hot iron mills established since 1970. Mills still provide many employments for people. The city receives immigrants due to the variety of employment opportunities also. Organized industrial zone has accrued with growing industrialization and this zone has built on 100 hectares. Consequently, there are about 1100 work place in Payas. Some of them is transportation companies, and 700-800 trucks transport coal and iron to big factories in a day. Livestock and agriculture areas are limited, because of developed industry and trade. And there is local fishery in Payas. In other words, there are about 70 fishermen. [3]