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The
country that unites Europe and Asia, with her glorious past that lasted
for centuries
Turkey, the land of many cultures,
decorated with the most impressive historical ruins and monuments
of these glorious ages and epochs, has been the cradle of many
outstanding civilizations.
Turkey is a paradise of sun, sea,
mountains, and lakes that offers the holiday maker a complete change
from the anxieties and routine of everyday life. From April to October,
most parts of Turkey have an ideal climate, providing perfect conditions
in which a visitor can relax on the sandy beaches or enjoy the peace of
mountains and lakes. Turkey has a magnificent past, and is a land full
of historic treasures covering thirteen successive civilizations. Even
a person who spends only a little time in Turkey can see something of
this great past. There is no doubt that one visit will not be enough,
and you will want to come back again and again as you discover one
extraordinary place after another. All of them, no matter how different,
have one thing in common, the friendly and hospitable people of this
unique country.
TURKEY IN BRIEF
GEOGRAPHY :
Turkey's land mass is 774.815 sq km. The
European and Asian sides are divided by the Istanbul Bogaz(Bosphorus),
the Sea of Marmara, and the Canakkale Bogazi (Dardanelles). Anatolia is
a high plateau region rising progressively towards the east, and is
broken by the valleys of about fifteen 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 sea coast. Turkey enjoys a variety of climates, changing 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 8333 km long.
HISTORY:
Turkey has been called
"the cradle of civilization" and by travelling through this
historic land the traveller will discover exactly what is meant by this
phrase. The world's first town, a neolithic city at Catalhoyuk, dates
back to 6,500 BC. From the days of Catalhoyuk up to the present time
Turkey boasts of a rich culture that through the centuries has made a
lasting impression on modern civilization.
The
many centuries of cultures makes Turkey a paradise of information and
cultural wealth. Hattis, Hittites,
Phrygians, Urartians, Lycians, Lydians, lonians, Persians, Macedonians,
Romans, Byzantines, Seljuks, and Ottomans have all held important places
in Turkey's history, and ancient sites and ruins scattered throughout
the country give proof to each
civilization's unique distinction. 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 a great
visionary in character, took the defeat of World War I and turned it
into a shining victory by liberating Turkey of all foreign invaders.
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk founded the Republic of Turkey on the 29th of
October, 1923. He led his country into peace and stability, with
tremendous economic growth and complete modernization. Through decades of change and growth Turkey still
boasts of this success by affectively living by their adopted motto of
"Peace at Home, Peace in the World."
POPULATION:
According to
1990 census Turkey has 57 million inhabitants, 41% of whom live in the
countryside. The major cities are: Istanbul (7.4 mil); Ankara, the
capital (3.2 mil); izmir (2.7 mil); Adana (1.9 mil); Antalya (1.1 mil);
and Bursa (1.6 mil).
LANGUAGE :
The Turkish language belongs to the Ural
Altaic group and has an affinity to the Finno Hungarian languages.
Turkish is written in the Latin alphabet and
is spoken by some 150 million people around the world. If you want to
take Turkish lessons you can apply to Turkce Ogretim Merkezi (Tur kish
Learning Centre) Ziya Gokalp Cad., No :18/1, 06650
Klzllay/Ankara/Turkey, Tel: (0312) 4343090-93, Fax: 4438190
RELIGION :
The
Turkish population is 99% Moslem. Turkey is a secular state and
guarantees complete freedom of worship to non-Moslems.
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 all over the world are
able to enjoy the history, culture, and beautiful sites of Turkey. From
swimming in the Mediterranean to skiing in Uludag, Turkey has some thing
to offer each 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 largest European wool and cotton producer.
Southeast Anatolia Project (GAP) GAP is a multipurpose, integrated
development project comprising of dams, hydroelectric power plants and
irrigation facilities, that are to be built on the Firat (Euphrates) and
Dicle (Tigris) rivers. It will affect agriculture, transportation,
education, tourism, health and other sectors. Included in the project
ATATURK DAM is among the First 10 dams in the world.
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.
PREPARATION FOR YOUR TRIP
WHERE TO OBTAIN INFORMATION
For all information concerning a trip to Turkey,
contact your nearest Turkish Tourist Information Office or your travel
agent. In Turkey, there are information offices in all principal cities
and tourist centres (see Useful Addresses).
WHEN TO GO
Marmara, Aegean, and Mediterranean coasts: These coasts have a typical
Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters.
The swimming
season be comes shorter the further north one goes.
Marmara and North Aegean :
June to September.
South Aegean and Mediterranean:
April to
October.
Black Sea Coast: remperate climate with warm summers,
mild winters, and rela tively high rainfall.
Central Anatolia: These areas have a steppe climate with hot, dry
summers; cold winters.
Eastern Anatolia: Long snowy, cold winters with
mild summers.
Southeast Anatolia: These areas have a hot summer with
mild, rainy winters.
WHAT TO
TAKE
a) Marmara,Aegean,and Mediterranean coasts-take light,cotton
summer clothingandcardigans for
evening.
b) Black Sea,Central and Eastern Anatolia besides summer
wear,warmer clothing should be taken for cool evenings at high
altitudes.
c) Comfortable shoes are necessary for visiting archaeological
and historical sites.
d) Sun hats and sun glasses are advisable in the height of
summer.
e) Headscarves should be taken by women for visiting mosques. |
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