Trabzon Province, Maçka Akarsu Village.

Описание: Historical and Name Origin
Old Name: The old Ottoman name for the settlement was "Larhan" (or "Lacharenes" in older 1361 records).

Name Change: The name was officially changed to "Akarsu" in 1959, as part of a national effort to replace names considered to be of foreign origin or confusing.

Religious History: The village had a significant historical Christian (Rum/Greek) population, alongside a Muslim population, particularly in the 19th century.

An old Aya Yorgi Church (St. George's Church) existed in the village; after being ruined, the Ottoman administration approved the construction of a new church in 1868. This building was later converted into a mosque after the Christian population left the area.

Some 19th-century reports even noted villagers with Gümüşhane origins living as "two-faith" people—outwardly Muslim but Christian in faith.

Geographical and Natural Features
Cave (Mağara): The area is known to have a natural wonder called the Akarsu Köyü Mağarası (Akarsu Village Cave) or Kestela Cave. Local accounts suggest it is a large cave, possibly used as a settlement in the past, with abundant stalactites and water flow. Some sources mention a local rumor of it having 72 rooms.

Highest Village: It is sometimes referred to as one of the highest villages in the Meryemana Valley (Altındere Valley) area of Maçka.

Mezire and Yayla: As with many Black Sea settlements, the village area is divided by elevation:

The main settlement area is between 600m and 1000m.

Mezire (seasonal small summer settlements, sometimes for animal husbandry) are found at heights of 1000m to 1800m.

Yayla (high-altitude summer pastures/plateaus) are located above 1800m.

Cultural and Social Life
Animal Dirges (Ağıtlar): As previously mentioned, a unique cultural practice is the tradition of singing dirges (ağıtlar) for animals, which highlights the deep bond and reliance the community has on their livestock. These songs express grief over the illness, death, or even the sale of animals like oxen, cows, and mules.

Economic Base: The general economy of the region, including the village, is traditionally rooted in agriculture and animal husbandry, which is reflected in the cultural traditions.

Community: Like much of the Black Sea area, the village life is known for its warm and friendly people, often featuring local musicians who play the kemençe (a traditional three-stringed fiddle).

In summary, Akarsu (Larhan) is a historically rich village in Maçka, known for its challenging yet beautiful geography, a fascinating religious history of coexistence and change, and unique cultural traditions like the animal dirges. It also offers a view into the traditional mountain life of the Eastern Black Sea.