Tuz means salt in the Turkish language. The Turkish name Tuzluca is derived from the salt mines that have existed here since at least medieval times; a salt mine still operates.
History
Known by Armenians as Koghb, Tuzluca was historically part of various Armenian kingdoms. The town and the surrounding area later became an Ottoman frontier Kurdish chiefdom and a scene of constant warfare between the Ottoman Empire and Persia. It was especially renowned for its salt mines.
After the Russian Revolution, the town came under the administration of the Democratic Republic of Armenia. However, it was ceded to Turkey by the Soviet Union in the Treaty of Kars.[5] It was traditionally part of Kars province until the creation of predominantly Iğdır province in 1993. Today, Tuzluca serves as a highland retreat for asthma patients. Apricots and other fruit and vegetables are grown in the district.
Government
In the local elections in March 2019 Ahmet Sair Sadrettin Türkan was elected mayor.[6] In 2024 Turkish local elections, CHP candidate won with 30.64 percent of the votes, while the incumbent mayor gathered 28.27 percent of the votes. However, Supreme Election Council has awarded the mayorship to the incumbent mayor from AKP, deciding that CHP candidate was not qualified for elections. This decision caused protests in support of the elected mayor in the town.[7]