AFYONKARAHISAR - Mineral water in western province of Afyonkarahisar's Gazligol region has been consumed since the era of Phrygians, dating back 5000 years.
Manager of the Kizilay (Red Crescent) Mineral Water Factory in Gazligol, Recep Donmez, told AA that the factory was erected in 1926 upon directives from Mustafa Kemal Ataturk to help provide an income for the Turkish Red Crescent Aid Society.
"The mineral water in Gazligol is providing cure to many illnesses for the past 5000 years. We know that Phrygian King Midas constructed baths in this region. Some baths built during the Roman era are still in use. Many Ottoman sultans, including Fatih Sultan Mehmet (who conquered Istanbul in 1453), had tasted the mineral water and had this mineral water carried to Istanbul in glass containers," Donmez said.
Turkish Kizilay has been selling Gazligol's mineral water across Turkey for the past 82 years. The society also exports the water to seven countries, including Holland, Belgium, Britain and Austria.
Kizilay's mineral water factory has an annual capacity of 500 million bottles.
(SOL-ULG)