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The Republic of Turkey is the only place in the world where
natural black roses grow fed by the waters of the Euphrates.
They are a very rare type of plant and are only grown in
Halfeti, a village in the southeastern province of Şanlıurfa, near the province
of Urfa.
The town is divided into two parts - Old and New Town.
Unfortunately, all of the Old City has been under water since 2000, when the
Birecik Dam on the Euphrates River was completed. According to local people's
stories, the famous black rose grew only in the old town of Halfeti.
The settlement dates back to 855 BC. and was located on the
east bank of the Euphrates River, 120 km from Urfa. According to the
"Southeastern Anatolia" project, in the 90s of the XX century, the
construction of the Birecik dam began here, which came into operation in 2000.
The old village of Halfeti was submerged, and its inhabitants (nearly 2500
people) were moved to the "new" village Halfeti, at a distance of
about 10 km from the old settlement.
When people moved, they took the black roses with them.
However, the rose did not thrive in the new place. The soil of old Halfeti,
nourished by the waters of the Euphrates, had a unique pH level. The terrain of
the new Halfetti was different, despite the short distance. After the
intervention of district officials, cuttings were collected from the plant.
Planted them in greenhouses near its original location in order to mimic their
original conditions.
The black rose, also known as the "Weeping Arab
Girl" or the "Arab Bride", is nourished by the waters of the
Euphrates River. The plant requires a certain pH and although it blooms deep
red, it turns black as summer progresses. It blooms in spring and autumn. This
variety is given by the density of the soil and the combination of
anthocyanins, water-soluble pigments. Soil has a huge influence on this type of
pigment as it is quite sensitive to pH.
According to local beliefs, the black rose is not associated with death, but has a positive symbolic meaning. This type of rose symbolizes the beginning of something new, a journey forward into the unknown!
Home of the "Crying Arab Girl"
The area of Urfa (currently Şanlıurfa) has an extremely
rich ancient history. Some scholars suggest that Adam and Eve lived nearby, in
Göbekli Tepe. According to both Jewish and Muslim traditions, Urfa is
considered the birthplace of the Prophet Abraham. The area is also closely associated
with the prophet Job (Ayyub in Arabic). But it is not only the major religions
that revere this city. Armenians consider it a holy city - according to them,
the Armenian alphabet was created here.
Urfa is a city that has been conquered and dominated by
several civilizations, including Sumerians, Babylonians, Hittites, Armenians,
Assyrians, Persians, Macedonians, Romans, Sassanids, Byzantines and Crusaders.
The Muslim world has turned this city into a major pilgrimage center, a regional Mecca for people living within a radius of about 1,000 kilometers. People believe that Ibrahim (Abraham), one of the most important prophets in Islam, was born in one of the caves in the center of the modern city. For more than a millennium, it has attracted constant crowds of pilgrims.
Mevlidi Khalil mosque was built right next to the place where the
prophet is supposed to have been born.
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