Yusufeli

Yusufeli is a town and district of Artvin Province in the Black Sea region of Turkey.It is located on the bank of Coruh River and is 104 km far away from (south-west of the ) Artvin, on the road to Erzurum.

 Yusufeli has a district area of 2327 square kilometres. The town of Yusufeli (population 6105) sits in a valley where the Çoruh River is joined by the Barhal, the surrounding countryside is a range of mountains running east to west, with villages in other valleys between the mountains; little of Yusufeli is flat and this is a beautiful landscape, with streams, lakes and excellent views. In the region micro climate is dominant. The cultivation of olives, grapes, and citrus fruits is the driving forces in the economy in addition to the tourism industry. The town can be reached by air via the Erzurum Airport which is about 135 km away from Yusufeli. It can be reached by highways from Artvin and Erzurum. Also it can be reached from Trabzon via İspir which is a district of Erzurum Province.

The folk music and culture is typical of the Black Sea region featuring the clarinet type Zurna, a drum and bagpipes; much of the population is of Georgian ethnicity.

There are a number of historical Georgian churches in the valleys of Yusufeli, including the ruins of four churches ("dört kilise') in a village off the road to İspir.

There is a widely-criticised plan to dam the Çoruh at Yusufeli, which would submerge 15,000 homes.

 With many kind of tourism facilities like rafting and many other water sports, tracking, mountain climbing, hunting, camping, photography, floristry, historical castles and churches and natural beauties Yusufeli is an excellent tourism location.