Balikesir; is one of the most important holiday cities of Turkey. City in northwestern Turkey with 240,000 inhabitants (2004 estimate), on a rising ground above a fertile plain, south of the Sea of Marmara. It's the capital of Balikesir City with 1.1 million inhabitants (2004 estimate).
Balikesir's the capital of a region with rich agriculture and minerals. The city's own industries include the production of cement, cotton textiles, flour, rugs and leather goods. The agriculture produces varied crops, including olives, cereals, beans, fruits, vegetables, sesame, cotton and tobacco. Minerals of the region include iron, lead, zink, antimony, chromium, lignite and boracite.
Balikesir is connected by rail and road to Aksehir 150 km. south, Izmir 250 km. southwest and Eskisehir 300 km. east, Ankara 550 km. east and by road to Bursa.
The surrounding area has many ancient historical and archaeological sites, like Edremit, sacked by Achilles according to the Illiad; Gönen, and Kaz Dagi, the ancient Mount Ida.
Modern Balikesir suffers from heavy pollution, mainly from its own cement plants. Still there are many landmarks from the city's long history, reflecting its important position in the Ottoman Empire. There're a few notable medieval mosques, of which the Zaganos Pasa from 1461 is unusually well preserved. The bazaar is still very much alive. The newer sections of Balikesir represent the real centre, and residential zones constist of typical modern Turkish architecture.