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İzmit (also known as '''Kocaeli'''; previously known as Iznik '''Ismid''' or '''Isnikmid''') is a city in the northwestern part of Anatolia , Turkey . It is located by the Gulf Of İzmit , about 100 km east of İstanbul . It is the capital of Kocaeli Province . The city has a population of 195,699 ( 2000 census), compared with a Pre-earthquake estimate of 210,000. İzmit is an important industrial centre, with a large oil refinery, and major paper and cement industries. Ford Motor Company has a plant here in a joint venture with Otosan , assembling the Transit/Tourneo and Transit/Tourneo Connect vans. It is also a transportation hub, being located on the main road and rail lines between İstanbul and Ankara , and having a major Port . There is also tourism in the city and its region. There is a 16th-century mosque by Sinan . There are remains of the ancient walls and a Byzantine fortress. The thermal spa at nearby Yalova is well-known. In antiquity, the city was called Astacus or Olbia (founded 712 B.C.). After being destroyed it was rebuilt and founded by Nicomedes I Of Bithynia in 264 BC as Nicomedia , and it became the capital of the eastern Roman Empire until the founding of Constantinople . Constantine The Great died at a royal villa nearby. Hannibal committed suicide in a castle at nearby Libyssa ( Gebze ). The historian Arrian was born there. The Earthquake Of August 17 , 1999 ( Magnitude 7.4) devastated the region, killing more than 17,000. SIGHTS IN AND AROUND IZMIT EXTERNAL LINKS |
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