ZONGULDAK

city, capital of Zonguldak il (province), northwestern Turkey, on the Black Sea coast. The well-equipped port is the main outlet for coal extracted from the basin between Zonguldak and Eregli. The city's development and rapid rise in population were associated with the growth of this coal industry after the mid-19th century. Mining was extensively developed by the government after 1940, and about 80 percent of the city's labour force is engaged in work related to coal. The Zonguldak Technical School of Mining is in the city. There are also chemical plants and coke ovens. Zonguldak is connected by rail with Ankara and by sea with Istanbul. Zonguldak il, with an area of 3,490 sq mi (9,038 sq km), is well forested and mountainous. It is drained by the Ara, Devrek, Filyos, and Ova rivers, along which are small but fertile lowlands producing corn (maize), flax, and vegetables. It is the centre of Turkish heavy industry, containing the nation's largest iron and steel complexes at Karabk and Eregli and the largest coalfields near Zonguldak city. A generating plant at atalagzi serves a large part of western Turkey. The building of small sailing craft is a tradition at Bartin. Pop. (1980) city, 109,044; (1983 est.) il, 1,025,600.