HAKKRI

formerly lemerik, city, capital of Hakkri il (province), southeastern Turkey. It lies at an altitude of about 5,500 ft (1,700 m), surrounded by mountains and overlooked by a medieval fortress, the former residence of its Kurdish rulers. A market for local livestock and livestock products, Hakkri has road links to Van to the north and Siirt to the west. Hakkri il, with an area of 3,817 sq mi (9,885 sq km), is drained by the Great Zab River (Bykzap Suyu). Iran borders it on the east and Iraq on the south. Mostly mountainous, it is the most sparsely populated and isolated il in Turkey. East of Hakkri city rise the high ranges of the Cilo (13,700 ft) and Sat (12,500 ft) mountains. Cropland is scarce, and the proportion of land under cultivation is among the nation's lowest. Livestock raising is the main activity. The largely Kurdish population is semi-nomadic, moving to higher summer pastures in season. Although the region was annexed to the Ottoman Empire in 151516, it was ruled largely by local Kurdish amirs under nominal Ottoman suzerainty until the mid-19th century. Pop. (1980) city, 18,009; (1983 est.) il, 174,200.