Doğanşehir (, formerly known as Muhacir and Viranşehir ) is a municipality and district of Malatya Province, Turkey. Its area is 1,364 km2 (526.6 sq mi), and its population is 37,697 (2022). The mayor is Memet Bayram (CHP). Historically the city was known as Sozopetra (Greek: Σωζόπετρα).

Geography

The altitude of the town is 1,290 meters (4232 feet) above mean sea level. Both plains and mountains are part of the landscape. It borders Çelikhan District to the east, Adıyaman District to the southeast, Tut District to the south, Gölbaşı District to the southwest, Nurhak and Elbistan to the west, Akçadağ to the north and Yeşilyurt to the northeast. The reservoirs at Polat Dam and Sürgü Dam are situated in the district.

Climate

Doğanşehir has a dry-summer continental climate (Köppen: Dsa) with hot, dry summers, and cold, snowy winters.

Composition

There are 39 neighbourhoods in Doğanşehir District:

History

The 2nd-century geographer Claudius Ptolemy records the city as Zizoatra, part of the province (strategia) of Lauiansene in Cappadocia. In Byzantine times, it was known as Sozopetra (Σωζόπετρα) and Zapetra (Ζάπετρα, Zibatra in Arabic).

Economy

Significant improvements in the fruit industry has made agriculture the District's most important source of income. It includes apricots and an increase in the production of apples. Livestock is usually farmed in the village. Both the district and the villages of central and traditional values, importance is given to local custom. Tourism, mountaineering and monitoring local wildlife are also new attractions.

Transport

Doğanşehir has a railway station on the line from Malatya to Adana. State road D.850 passes through the district.

External sources