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Turkey is a huge,
geographically and culturally diverse country,
sharing borders with Greece, Bulgaria, Georgia,
Armenia, Nakhitchevan, Iran, Iraq and Syria. It has
almost 8,400 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 814.578 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 landmass 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 civilisation'
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 boasts a
rich culture that has made an everlasting impression
on modern civilisations through the centuries. The
heir to many centuries of cultures makes Turkey a
paradise of information and cultural wealth. Hattis,
Hittites, Phrygians, Urartians, Lycians, Lydians,
Ionians, Greeks, Persians, Macedonians, Romans,
Byzantinians, Seljuks, 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
civilisation's unique distinction |
