Gölbaşı is a municipality and district of Ankara Province, Turkey. Its area is 1,364 km2, and its population is 150,047 (2022). It is 20 km south of the city of Ankara. Its elevation is 970 m. The district includes the Mogan and Eymir lakes. Although the lakes are polluted and infested with mosquitoes, the picnic areas and lakeside restaurants of Gölbaşı serve as a popular retreat from the city for the people of Ankara. A number of government departments have accommodations here, and the town is slowly but surely joining up with the city as the green space between the two disappears. Türk Telekom have their satellite ground control in the area.

History

Archaeological research in the area has revealed since 3000 BC a succession of civilısations including Hittites, Phrygians, Greeks ,Romans, and Byzantines. Excavated sites include Selametli, Tuluntaş, Tuluntaş-Ortaçayır, Kızılcaşar-Gökçepınar, Karagedik, Bacılar, Bezirhane Kültepe, Bezirhane-Kepenekçi and İncek-Harmantepe. The area has long been occupied by Turks, and it was here that Timur hid his elephants in the woods before the Battle of Ankara.

Places of interest

Demographics

The population of Gölbaşı city is growing very fast. The main reasons are: a high natural growth rate, migration from rural areas (rural exodus) and immigration from the city of Ankara.

Composition

There are 54 neighbourhoods in Gölbaşı District: