Geography

Trabzon is in the Eastern Black Sea Region, at the terminus of transit routes to the Caucasus and Iran. It is on the north shore of the Black Sea, with the provinces of Gümüşhane and Bayburt to the south, Giresun to the west, and Rize to the east. The larger settlements lie along the coast. The mountains along the narrow coastal strip rise to 3,000 metres. The mountainous hinterland contains passes and high pastures set amid spectacular summits, and is suitable for plateau tourism.