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Maps
Maps of Lazistan
The Laz homeland extends along the southeastern Black Sea coast, primarily in the modern Turkish provinces of Rize and Artvin, with a small extension into the Adjara region of Georgia. The maps below show the geographic extent of Lazistan and the major Laz population centers.
Interactive Map of Lazistan
Towns, valleys and historic sites along the coast, from Trabzon in the west to Batumi in the east. Click any marker to open the article behind it.
Key Laz Cities and Towns
| Town (Turkish) | Laz Name | Province | Laz Dialect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pazar | Atina | Rize | Atinuri |
| Ardeşen | Artaşeni | Rize | Ardeşenuri |
| Çamlıhemşin | Vijadibi | Rize | Ardeşenuri |
| Fındıklı | Vitsa | Rize | Vizuri |
| Arhavi | Arkabi | Artvin | Arkabuli |
| Hopa | Xopa | Artvin | Xopuri |
| Kemalpaşa | Makriali | Artvin | Xopuri |
| Borçka | Borçxa | Artvin | n/a |
| Sarpi | Sarpi | Adjara (Georgia) | Xopuri |
Historical Extent of Lazistan
In antiquity, the Kingdom of Lazica (Egrisi) controlled a much larger territory than the modern Laz-speaking area. At its height (4th–6th century AD), Lazica extended from approximately modern Trabzon in the west to Abkhazia in the east, encompassing much of western Georgia. The capital, Archaeopolis (modern Nokalakevi), was located deep in the interior of modern Georgia.
Laz Diaspora
Significant Laz communities can be found in:
- Istanbul: the largest Laz population outside of Lazistan
- Ankara, Bursa, Düzce, Sakarya: major cities with Laz communities
- Germany (Berlin, Cologne, Düsseldorf): largest European Laz diaspora
- Georgia (Adjara, Sarpi): the ancestral cross-border community