The Hochvan region, located in Ardahan province, is an ancient geography that has hosted various deep-rooted civilizations such as the Urartians, Medes, Persians, Russians, and Ottomans due to its strategic border location. Markakoy Kora, which is highly popular and well-known, is also located in this region and stands out as a significant symbol of Hochvan with its unique cultural fabric. Although the official names of the villages were changed during the Republican era, historical names like Kora, Beberek, and Pangis are still actively used among the local population. Haskoy is traditionally considered the center of Hochvan, while Tuncoluk is known as its largest village. Following intense migration waves to major cities like Istanbul for economic reasons, the Hochvan Associations Federation (Hocfed) was established in 2009 to maintain cultural ties and strengthen solidarity among the diaspora. In sports, Hochvan Spor Club, which was founded in 2016, nicknamed "The Panzers," and drew its colors from the historical emblem of Kora village, became the pride of the entire region by winning the amateur league championship in a short time. Additionally, the people of Hochvan embraced digital technology at a very early stage through websites, forums, ICQ, Mirc channels, and online groups established by journalist and author Mehmet Ali Arslan long before the rise of modern social media, successfully sharing their rich heritage with the world.
Erdahan newspaper
