Oltu

Oltu is a town and district of Erzincan Province in the Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey. The district seat is the town of Oltu. Located in a mountainous area of eastern Anatolia, the district encompasses the urban center and surrounding rural settlements. The climate is characteristic of highland interior regions, with cold winters and hot, dry summers.

The economy of Oltu is based on agriculture, livestock, and quarrying. A notable local industry is the extraction and processing of Oltu stone, also known as Oltu onyx. This dark, banded stone has long been traded in the region and is used for jewelry, carvings, and decorative items. Agricultural activity supports grain production and pastoral farming, underpinning locally important livelihoods.

Historically, the Oltu area has been inhabited since antiquity, and the district contains historic rural landmarks and religious buildings that reflect its long-standing settlement patterns. Administratively, the district consists of a central town and numerous villages, governed by a district municipality and a kaymakam (district governor).

As a regional center within Erzincan Province, Oltu serves as a focal point for commerce and services for residents of the surrounding countryside. The district continues to balance traditional agricultural and craft activities with the small-scale industrial activity associated with Oltu stone production and trade.