Karabuk

In the old times Karabuk was an important route between Amasra on the coast and central Anatolia. The history of the city goes back to the early years of the Republic, it was a small sub-village formed by 13 houses in the Oglebeli village of Safranbolu. There was also a small train station on the route of Ankara - Zonguldak. It started to develop with the industrialization of the country. One of the first steal factories of the Republic was built here in 1939 after which it grew rapidly.

There are no proven facts about the origin of its name; in Turkish Kara means Black or Land and Buk means corner. But some local people believe that Buk is the name of the vegetation in the area, so maybe Karabuk means "Land of Buk vegetation".

Karabuk has its own resources of dolomite and limestone, while coal and manganese is brought from Zonguldak and iron ore from Divrigi. This allows a varied, yet basic industry in Karabuk, including a coking plant, blast furnaces, a foundry and tube works. There are also chemical plants that produce sulfuric acid and phosphates. Nearby are the Zonguldak coal fields.