Kurtalan

Kurtalan is a town and district of Siirt Province in the Southeastern Anatolia Region of Turkey. It serves as the administrative center of Kurtalan District and is located inland within the province, featuring a landscape of plains and low hills. The climate is continental, with hot summers and cold winters.

The population is primarily Kurdish, with numerous villages and rural communities surrounding the town. The local economy relies on agriculture and animal husbandry, with crops such as cereals and legumes, as well as orchard fruits, playing important roles. Small-scale commerce and services support the district’s economy, and regional development initiatives have influenced infrastructure and demographics.

Kurtalan is connected by road to nearby cities such as Diyarbakır, Siirt, and Batman, and it is served by a railway station on the historic Baghdad Railway network. The Kurtalan Express, a long-distance passenger train, is a notable part of the town’s railway heritage and highlights its historical role as a railway hub in eastern Turkey.

Historically, the area has been part of various empires and administrative arrangements before becoming a district of Siirt Province in the Turkish Republic era. Today, Kurtalan hosts municipal services, markets, mosques, schools, and other institutions that serve the residents of the district and surrounding villages.