Zonguldak, city in northwestern Turkey on the Black Sea, the capital of Zonguldak province. The discovery of anthracite, or hard, coal reserves in the 19th century changed Zonguldak from a small village to a fast-growing coal city with a busy port. The state-owned coal mines are the major means of support for Zonguldak's inhabitants. Coal-burning heavy industries in and around Zonguldak also contribute to the economy. The city has highly developed highway and railroad connections to the rest of the country to facilitate transport of coal. Zonguldak's Karaelmas (literally “Black Diamond”) University (founded in 1992) was named as a tribute to the local coal reserves. Zonguldak was incorporated into the Ottoman Empire as a village in the 15th century. Population (1990) 116,725.
