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Turkey is a country
located at a point where the three continents of the old world (Asia,
Africa, and Europe) are closest to each other and where Asia and
Europe meet. Because of its geographical location, Turkey has always
been important throughout history and is the birthplace of many
great civilizations.
Geography
A spectacular country surrounded by sea on three sides. More than
300 natural and 130 artificial lakes, almost 35% of its lands
covered by forests and mountains, several rivers crossing beaches to
reach the seas make the country even more attractive. Turkey's land
mass is 814,578 sq km. The European and Asian sides are divided by
the Bosphorus (Istanbul Bogazi), the Propontis (Sea of Marmara), and
the Dardanelles (Canakkale Bogazi). Anatolia (Asia Minor as the
Roman's called it) is a high plateau region rising progressively
towards the east, broken up by the valleys of about 15 rivers,
including the Dicle (Tigris) and the Firat (Euphrates). There are
numerous lakes and some, such as Lake Van, are as large as inland
seas. In the north, the eastern Black Sea Mountain chain runs
parallel to the Black Sea; in the south, the Taurus Mountains sweep
down almost to the narrow, fertile coastal plain along the coast.
Turkey enjoys a variety of climates, ranging from the temperate
climate of the Black Sea region, to the continental climate of the
interior, then, to the Mediterranean climate of the Aegean and
Mediterranean coastal regions. The coastline of Turkey's four seas
is more than 8,333 km long.
Wild Life
The wild life of Turkey consists of 120 species of mammals, 439 of
birds and 345 of fish. Wolf, fox, wildcat, lynx, marten, hyena, bear,
deer, gazelle, boar, beaver, turtles and tortoises are still found
in the land. There are 7 species of sea turtles in the world, 2 of
these are living in the Mediterranean basin - caretta caretta and
green turtle known as Chelonia Mydas. Sea turtles nest on some of
the sandy beaches of the Mediterranean.
History
ANATOLIA the land, where the sun rises from''
Turkey has been called "the cradle of civilization" and by
travelling through this historic land, tourists will discover
exactly what is meant by this phrase. The first town ever settled in
the world with comparatively modern organisational systems such as
agriculture, animal husbandry and trading was a Neolithic city
Catalhoyuk, in central Turkey, dating back to 6,500 BC. From the
days of Catalhoyuk up to the present, Turkey boasts a rich culture
that, through the centuries, has made a lasting impression on modern
civilization. The legacy of all those admirable cultures makes
Turkey a paradise of information and cultural wealth. Hattis,
Hittites, Carians, Lelegians Phrygians, Urartians, Lycians, Lydians,
Ionians, Dorians, Aeolians, Persians, Macedonians, Romans,
Byzantines, Seljuks, and Ottomans have all made important
contributions to Anatolian history and ancient sites and ruins
scattered throughout the country give proof of each civilization's
unique distinction. When you travel by car, within half an hour you
come across an ancient town remaining from those civilizations. Even
then, this fascinating country was respected by those ancient
peoples, therefore it was named ANATOLIA, which means in ancient
Greek, '' The land, where the sun rises from '' as many vital
initial ideas came into existence from her fertile lap. No doubt,
people have always been proud to breathe in the various cultures,
customs and traditions combined in this amazing peninsula and now
once again it has started to offer hospitality to new cultures &
people who deserve to discover these friendly and fertile lands by
introducing a new law permitting foreigners to buy houses.
Turkey also has a very fascinating recent history. Upon the decline
of the Ottoman Empire, a young man named Mustafa Kemal, who was a
soldier by occupation but, in character, a great visionary, took the
defeat of World War I and turned it into a shining victory by
liberating Turkey from all foreign invaders. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk
founded the Republic of Turkey on 29 October 1923. He led his
country into peace and stability with tremendous economic growth and
complete modernisation. Through decades of change and growth, Turkey
still boasts of this success, living by its adopted motto of
"Peace at Home, Peace in the World."
Population
According to the 2000 census, Turkey has 68 million inhabitants, 41%
of whom live in the countryside. The major cities are: Istanbul
(10m); Ankara, the capital (4m); Izmir (3.4m); Bursa (2.1m); Adana
(1.8m); and Antalya (1.7m).
Language
The Turkish language belongs to the Ural-Altaic group and has an
affinity with the Finno-Hungarian languages. Turkish is one of the
ancient languages spoken before 1000 BC by the nomadic tribes and a
written alphabet was produced around AD 7. Throughout history, the
language has been influenced slightly by some other languages and
different dialects appeared. Modern Turkish is written with the
Latin alphabet and is spoken by some 150 million people around the
world.
Religion
Although 99% of Turkish people are Moslem, Turkey is a secular state
that guarantees complete freedom of worship to non-Moslems. There
are adequate numbers of churches and synagogues serving their
communities especially in the big cities where the majority of non-Moslems
live.
Economy
Tourism: In recent years, Turkey has become a major tourist
destination in Europe. With the rapid development of both summer and
winter resorts, more and more people from around the world are able
to enjoy the history, culture, and beautiful sites of Turkey.
Swimming in the Mediterranean or skiing in Uludag, Turkey has
something to offer every tourist.
Agriculture: This plays a very important role in the Turkish economy.
The main crops are wheat, rice, cotton, tea, tobacco, hazelnuts, and
fruit. Sheep are Turkey's most important livestock and Turkey is one
of the major cotton and wool producers.
Natural resources: The principal minerals extracted are coal, chrome
(an important export), iron, copper, bauxite, marble and sulphur.
Industry: Industry is developing rapidly and is directed mainly
towards the processing of agricultural products, metallurgy,
textiles and the manufacture of automobiles and agricultural
machinery.
Political Structure:
The Turkish Republic is based on a secular, democratic, pluralistic
and parliamentary system where human rights are protected by law and
social justice. The National Assembly is elected by popular vote and
the nation is governed by the Council of Ministers headed by the
Prime Minister. Turkey is a founding member of OECD, the Black Sea
Economic Cooperation Organization, a member of NATO, the European
Council and the European Parliament, and an associate member of the
European Union.
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