Turkey is a huge,
geographically and culturally diverse country, sharing borders with
Greeks, Bulgaria, Georgia, Armenia, Nakhitchevan, Iran, Iraq and Syria.
It has almost 8400 km of coastline and several mountain ranges, the
highest peak being 5165m (Mount Ararat). Due to its size Turkey enjoys a
variety of climates, changing from the temperate climate of the Black
Sea Region, to the continental climate of the interior, to the
Mediterranean climate of the Aegean and Mediterranean coastal regions.
With its large range of mountains, forests, lakes, rivers, flora, and
fauna, Turkey is an outdoor enthusiast's paradise. The opportunities for
activities such as cycling, trekking, horse-riding, skiing and white
water rafting are endless in this uncrowded country covering 774.815
square kilometers, and between the lush greenery of the Black Sea Coast
and the hot, dry Mediterranean coast, there are a multitude of
landscapes to choose from. With more than 10 000 years of history,
Turkey is also rich in culture and ancient sites, which together with
its natural beauty make this country a fascinating place to explore.
A country as old as history, a paradise of sun, sea, mountains and
lakes. Turkey has a magnificent past, and is a land full of historic
treasures.
Turkey's land mass is 814.578 sq. km. The European and Asian sides are
divided by the Istanbul Bogazi (Bosphorus) and the Canakkale Bogazi
(Dardanelles).
Anatolia is a high
plateau region rising progressively towards the east, broken 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 Turkish
Riviera, following the ancient Lycian and Pamphylian coasts.
Anatolia has been called ‘the cradle of civilization’ and by travelling
through this historic land, one would discover what exactly is meant by
this phrase. The world's first town, a Neolithic city at Catalhoyuk
dates back to 6500 B.C. From the Neolithic days up to the present,
Turkey boats a rich culture that has made an everlasting impression on
modern civilization through the centuries. The heir to many centuries of
cultures makes Turkey a paradise of information and cultural wealth.
Hattis, Hitites, Phrygians, Urartians, Lycians, Lydians, Ionians,
Greeks, Persians, Macedonians, Romans, Byzantinians, Selchuks, and
Ottomans have all made important contributions to Anatolian and Turkish
histories, and ancient sites and ruins scattered throughout the country
give proof of each civilization's unique distinction.
