Geographical position: Turkey is located in
southwestern Asia on the Anatolian peninsula for the most part but
it also includes parts of Thrace, an area in southeaster part of
Europe. It has always been on the crossroads of the two continents
but its desire was to be as close to Europe as possible. Its
capital is Ankara and it largest city, and the most popular tourist
destination, is Istanbul, the most precious stone in the ring of
universal empire from the Osman's dream myth.The country is
surrounded by four seas - the Black Sea, the Marmara Sea, the
Mediterranean Sea and the Aegean Sea.
Surface: Total area: 780,580 km2; land area:
770,760 km2; water area: 9,820 km2.
Population: Officially 70,586,256 as of 1st
January 2008 (67,803,927 in 2000), average of 92 inhabitants live
per km2, 70.5% of the total population live in the cities and 29.5%
in villages or small towns in the countryside.
Istanbul: 12,573,836 as of Jan 2008 (10,033,478 in 2000), 17.8 %
of the total population, 2420 people per square kilometer
Ankara: 4,466,756 as of Jan 2008 (4,007,860 in 2000), 6.3 % of the
total population
Izmir: 3.739.353 as of Jan 2008 (3,387,908 in 2000), 5.3 % of the
total population, 311 people per square kilometer
Government system: Turkey is a parliamentary
representative democracy.
Official language and script: Turkish language
and Latin alphabet.
Time zone: EET (UTC+2), in summer EEST
(UTC+3).
Religion: 99% of the population is Muslim.
Turkey is a secular state that assures complete freedom of other
non-muslim religions.
Capital: Ankara (population of 3,842,737),
while the largest city is Istambul (population of 10,861,463).
Climate: The climate ranges from Mediterranean
to Continental, so in certain areas the temperature can drop as low
as -40°C but also go as high as +40°C.
Currency: New Turkish Lira (TRY).
Working hours: Shops and department stores are
opened between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2
p.m., or to 3 p.m. A smaller number of stores close between noon
and 4 p.m. Many stores are also opened on Sundays, especially in
the summer, and some smaller are opened 24 hours a day. Public
services and companies usually work from 8.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.
from Monday to Friday.
Electricity & Water: Electricity: 220 V.
Tap water is safe to drink, but it is advisable to drink bottled
water instead.
Telephone code: The telephone code for Turkey
is +90.
When to travel to Turkey: The best time to
travel to Turkey is definitely either in the spring or in autumn
(from June to September). That is when the temperature in Istanbul
and the coastal regions is the mildest, around cozy 24 degrees,
there is not much rain and the sky is clear for the most part. At
the same time the weather is quite pleasantly cool in Central
Anatolia.
History: Turkey was founded, by a national hero
Mustafa Kemal, in 1923 from the Anatolian remnants of the defeated
Ottoman Empire. In 1950, there was a peaceful transfer of power,
from one-party rule to a victory of opposition Democratic Party.
Even though the Turkish political parties have multiplied, over the
years, democracy has been fractured so much that eventually
resulted in a return of political power to civilians. In 2004, KGK
announced an end to its ceasefire and attacks attributed to the KGK
increased. Turkey joined the UN in 1945 and in 1952 it became a
member of NATO. In 1964, Turkey became an associate member of the
European Community.
Sightseeing: Turkey prides itself with some of
the most important works of architecture such as Aya Sofya, built
in the 6th century as ordered by the Byzantine Emperor
Justinian.Some of the best examples of Ottoman architecture are
mosques.
Turkey has very diverse landscape that comprises of both mountains
and seasides, numerous lakes and rivers.
Turkish people: Modern Turkey encompasses
bustling cosmopolitan centers, pastoral farming villages, barren
wastelands, peaceful Aegean coastlines, and steep mountain regions.
More than 70% of Turkey's population lives in urban areas that
juxtapose Western lifestyles with more traditional ways of
life.
/ They are incredibly cordial people who will look upon you as a
member of their family from the start and share the miracle of
their national cuisine with you.
Cuisine: The Turkish and Ottoman Kitchen is one
of the world leading kitchens. Turkey is the mother country of
kebab, baklava, Turkish delight, and a famous alcoholic beverage
raki awaits you.