İspir and Pazaryolu 2026: The Çoruh Valley, Beans and Ovit

عاشق الأناضول · Oct 2, 2026

İspir and its surrounding valley.

İspir and Pazaryolu reveal a different side of Erzurum province: agricultural valleys enclosed by mountains and plateaux, with links to the Black Sea through Rize. Cold winters and broad plains tell only part of the story here. Differences in altitude between valley floors and uplands influence crops, settlement patterns and rural life.

İspir and Pazaryolu in the Çoruh Basin

İspir and Pazaryolu are connected with the Çoruh Valley and the tributary valleys descending towards it. North-west of Erzurum, Pazaryolu borders Bayburt to the west and Rize to the north. It was formerly part of İspir before becoming a separate district in 1989.

The district governor’s office describes characteristics that differ from central Erzurum because of its location and proximity to the Black Sea. Continental winter conditions still matter, however: high villages and the valley do not experience the same weather throughout the year.

İspir Beans and Agriculture

İspir is famous for its dried beans, registered in 2011 under the protected local designation İspir Kuru Fasulyesi. Their value rests on the area’s identity and growing conditions, together with the work involved in cultivation, harvesting and sorting.

An official agriculture-directorate report dated 21 September 2026 documented the beginning of the harvest and discussions with farmers about production challenges. In Pazaryolu, fruit and vegetables are grown in the valley and along tributaries, while livestock farming is important in higher villages. Beekeeping also contributes to the economy.

İspir beans may be well known, but the area’s livelihoods extend beyond this single crop.

Uplands and the Yedigöller Lakes

The landscape becomes increasingly mountainous with altitude. Among İspir’s best-known natural areas is Yedigöller, near the Ovit Mountains and the southern side of the Kaçkar range. The name means “Seven Lakes”, but is used for a group of lakes of varying sizes rather than necessarily defining an exact count.

The district governor’s office presents the area as a destination for nature routes and mountain walking. Snow, uplands and grazing land characterise the higher ground, while valleys support agriculture and permanent settlement. Both are complementary parts of the local environment.

The İspir bean harvest in September 2026.

Ovit Tunnel and the Link to Rize

Ovit Tunnel lies on the İkizdere–İspir road connecting Rize and Erzurum. According to the General Directorate of Highways, it opened on 13 June 2018. Its geographical importance lies in easing passage through a mountain barrier that previously disrupted winter travel.

It forms part of the wider connection between Eastern Anatolia and the Black Sea; it was not a new project opened in 2026. Its effects on trade and services should be assessed alongside the rest of the road and settlement network, without attributing specific economic results to the tunnel in the absence of evidence.

Energy, the Environment and Rural Services

The İspir district governor’s office documents hydroelectric installations within the district, including Güllübağ, adding energy production to the valley’s agricultural and residential functions. Evaluating development here requires attention to water management, farmland and slope protection as well as investment.

Pazaryolu’s economic circumstances also show the importance of village services and employment links beyond the area. Following projects therefore means considering local production, infrastructure and environmental maintenance together, alongside the number of facilities and the appeal of the scenery.

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İspir and Pazaryolu 2026: The Çoruh Valley, Beans and Ovit

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