Turkey

Turkey Whatever you feel like doing on your vaccation, Turkey has it. This big country has cities like Istanbul, Antalya and Alanya, or coast sides, mountains and country sides. This country has a big importance as it divides Europe by Asia at the Bosphorus strait river that divides Istanbul in two. You can see beautifull mosques and other amazing historical monuments or bazaars, where you can find anything.

A great part of Turkey is situated in Asia, but a zone is in Europe.

Area: 779.452 Km² (755.688 Km² asian part, 23.764 Km² european part)
Population: 66.494.000 (2001 est.)
Density: 85 pop/Km²

System of government: Parliamentary Republic
Capital: Ankara (1.900.000 pop., 2.845.000 urban aggl.)
Major cities: Istanbul 2.800.000 pop. (7.910.000 urban aggl.), Smirne 757.000 pop. (2.050.000 urban aggl.)
Ethnic majority: Turkish 90%, Kurdish and others 10%
Border countries: Bulgaria and Greece WEST, Georgia and Armenia NORTH, Iran EAST, Iraq and Syria SOUTH

Principal mountains: Ararat 5165 m
Principal rivers: Kizilirmak 1182 Km, Euphrates 960 Km (turkish tract, total 2770 Km)
Principal lakes: Lake Van 3738 Km², Lake Tuz 1700 Km², Lake Beysehir 780 Km², Lake Keban 675 Km², Lake Egridir 590 Km²
Principal islands: Gökçeada
Climate: Continental - mediterranean

Language: Turkish
Religion: Muslim 98%
Currency: Turkish Lira (TRL)

Fixed public holidays: 1/1, 23/4, 19/5, 30/8, 29/10
Dialling code: 0090
GMT: +2

World Heritage List:

• Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia (1985)
• Great Mosque and Hospital of Divrigi (1985)
• Historic Areas of Istanbul (1985)
• Hattusha (1986)
• Nemrut Dag (1987)
• Hierapolis-Pamukkale (1988)
• Xanthos-Letoon (1988)
• City of Safranbolu (1994)
• Archaeological Site of Troy (1998)