Elazig, Turkey

Capital City

This inland city of 312,584 residents is a practical but unremarkable hub in Eastern Anatolia. The Keban Dam flooded nearby villages, forcing many to resettle and invest in Elazig, which has developed a robust industrial base. However, bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as the region was long governed by a military-appointed governor with sweeping powers. With a continental climate of bitterly cold winters and scorching summers, Elazig is best suited for pragmatic Turks and Kurds seeking economic opportunity, rather than foreign adventurers.