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Gümüşhane is a city in northeastern Turkey. It has a population of 30,270 (2000 census and is the capital of Gümüşhane Province. The city lies along the Harsit River, at an elevation of 5,000 feet (1,500 m), about 40 miles (65 km) southwest of Trabzon.
The origin and history of the ancient settlement are obscure. The silver (Turkish: gümüş) mines from which the city's name is derived were mentioned by Marco Polo and the medieval North African traveler Ibn Battutah. Since the mines were worked out the economy of Gümüşhane has been based upon the export of fruits (chiefly apples and pears) from its orchards and upon its position as a transit station between the port of Trabzon and western Iran. Russian occupation during World War I left half of the old city in ruins; the new city built since then is now the commercial and administrative centre. Nearby historical buildings include partially ruined castles, Turkish baths, mosques, and several Byzantine churches.
In 1911, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica, "the population was about 3000, who were mainly Greeks, who had emigrated great distances to work in the mines, and supplied virtually the whole lead and silver mining labor in Asiatic Turkey. The Greek bishop of Gumush-Khaneh had under his jurisdiction all the communities engaged in this particular class of mines".
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