Golbasi (Lake Head) gets its name from the three lakes nearby. Starting out as a small village Golbasi grew quite rapidly due to being strategically located on the Istanbul – Malatya railroad. It became a district (ilce) in 1958 in the province of Adiyaman. Animal husbandry and vineyards play an important role in the region’s economy, although more recently pistachio nuts have also gained importance. About 26 percent of the district is forested. The region is popular as a vacation and resting place for the locals due to its lakes. There are no major industries in the city although, recently light industry like machine and repair shops have gained some prominence.