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ABOUT TURKEY
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Peace at Home,
Peace in the World
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
 
The founder of the Turkish Republic and its first President, stands as a towering figure of the 20th Century. Among the great leaders of history, few have achieved so much in so short period, transformed the life of a nation as decisively, and given such profound inspiration to the world at large.
Emerging as a military hero at the Dardanelles in 1915, he became the charismatic leader of the Turkish national liberation struggle in 1919. He blazed across the world scene in the early 1920s as a triumphant commander who crushed the invaders of his country. Following a series of impressive victories against all odds, he led his nation to full independence. He put an end to the antiquated Ottoman dynasty whose tale had lasted more than six centuries - and created the Republic of Turkey in 1923, establishing a new government truly representative of the nation's will.
As President for 15 years, until his death in 1938, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk introduced a broad range of swift and sweeping reforms - in the political, social, legal, economic, and cultural spheres - virtually unparalleled in any other country
His achievements in Turkey are an enduring monument to Atatürk. Emerging nations admire him as a pioneer of national liberation. The world honors his memory as a foremost peacemaker who upheld the principles of humanism and the vision of a united humanity. Tributes have been offered to him through the decades by such world statesmen as Lloyd George, Churchill, Roosevelt, Nehru, de Gaulle, Adenauer, Bourguiba, Nasser, Kennedy, and countless others. A White House statement, issued on the occasion of "The Atatürk Centennial" in 1981, pays homage to him as "a great leader in times of war and peace". It is fitting that there should be high praise for Atatürk, an extraordinary leader of modern times, who said in 1933: "I look to the world with an open heart full of pure feelings and friendship".
" This nation has never lived without independence. We cannot and shall not live without it. Either independence or death."
ABOUT TURKEY
Tourism and Travel
Stretching out on two continents, Turkey is a paradise where one can experience the four seasons simultaneously... Whether be fond of art, history, archeology or nature, you will feel the happiness beyond desires and hopes during your stay in Turkey.
Surrounded by the crystal clear waters of a shinning sea at four directions, Turkey generously offers her 8000km long shores before your eyes. Turkey is rich in flora and fauna.
Because of its geographical location, the mainland, Anatolia, has witnessed the mass migration of diverse peoples shaping the course of history. Twenty fascinating civilizations render Turkey the heir of 10.000 years old history, which has still been examined for further ancient secrets to be brought up into daylight. These lands inhales at any moment the mystery of the past through the existence of the statues of gods and goddesses, temples, theaters, agoras, churches, mosques, medresseh, palaces and caravanserais. Becoming a united whole of daily life and all other values, Turkey forms ideal circumstances.
The Climate
Although Turkey is situated in a geographical location where climatic conditions are quite temperate, the diverse nature of the landscape , and the existence in particular of the mountains that run parallel to the coasts, results in significant differences in climatic conditions from one region to the other. While the coastal areas enjoy milder climates, the inland Anatolian plateau experiences extremes of hot summers and cold winters with limited rainfall.
Geographical Regions
Turkey is generally divided into seven regions: the Black Sea region, the Marmara region, the Aegean, the Mediterranean, Central Anatolia, the East and Southeast Anatolia regions. The uneven north Anatolian terrain running along the Black Sea resembles a narrow but long belt. The land of this region is approximately 1/6 of Turkey's total land area.
Area
The actual area of Turkey inclusive of its lakes, is 814,578 square kilometres, of which 790,200 are in Asia and 24,378 are located in Europe.
The land borders of Turkey are 2,573 kilometres in total, and coastlines (including islands) are another 8,333 kilometres, Turkey has two European and six Asian countries for neighbours along its land borders.
The land border to the northeast with the commonwealth of Independent States is 610 kilometres long; that with Iran, 454 kilometres long, and that with Iraq 331 kilometres long. In the south is the 877 kilometre-long border with Syria, which took its present form in 1939, when the Republic of Hatay joined Turkey. Turkey's borders on the European continent consist of a 212-kilometre frontier with Greece and a 269-kilometre border with Bulgaria.
Coastlines
Turkey is surrounded by sea on three sides, by the Black Sea in the north, the Mediterranean in the south and the Aegean Sea in the west. In the northwest there is also an important internal sea, the Sea of Marmara, between the straits of the Dardanelles and the Bosphorus, important waterways that connect the Black Sea with the rest of the world.
Religion & Securalism
98% of the Turkish population is Moslem. However, everyone in Turkey has freedom of religion and belief. No one can be forced to participate in religious ceremonies or rites against their will and no blame can be attached to anyone because of their beliefs.
The first phases in the introduction of secularism were the abolition of the Caliphate and the Ministry of the Sheria and Pious Foundations on March 4, 1924, followed by the introduction of separate educational and judicial systems, the hat reform, the closure of dervish retreats and rligious sects, the acceptance of a Sunday weekend holiday rather than the Moslem Friday and the adoption of the western calendar, and finally the adoption of the principle of secularism in the Constitution of February 5, 1937
In secular Turkey all religious affairs are carried out by a central government organization affiliated to the Prime Ministry, namely the Department of Religious Affairs, established in 1924. The function of this organization is to carry out tasks related to the beliefs, divine services and moral principles of Islam, and to enlighten citizens on religious matters.
Turkey In Brief
OFFICIAL NAME The Republic of Turkey (Türkiye Cumhuriyeti)
FOUNDER :Mustafa Kemal ATATÜRK ( 1881-1938 )
LOCATION Eastern Mediterranean. Located on two continents: Europe and Asia. The European part of Turkey is called Thrace, while the Asian part is called Anatolia (or Asia Minor)
AREA 814 578 square kilometers (314 500 square miles)
% 3 on the European continent
% 97 on the Asian continent
CAPITAL ANKARA
POPULATION 67.8 million (as of 2002)
LITERACY RATE 1935 % 19.25
2001 % 86.60
MAJOR CITIES
(as of 2002)
Istanbul 10 million
Ankara 4 million
Izmir 3.4 million
Bursa 2.1 million
Konya 2.2 million
Adana 1.8 million
LANGUAGE Turkish (uses Latin Alphabet)
CURRENCY Turkish Lira
RELIGION % 99 of the population is Muslim. Turkey is the only country among Islamic countries, which has included secularism in her Constitution and guarantees complete freedom of worship to non-Muslims.
FLAG Red background with a white crescent and star in the middle.
NATIONAL ANTHEM "Istiklal Marsi" (Independence March)
Lyrics by: Mehmet Akif Ersoy
Adopted as Turkey's National Anthem on March 12, 1921
GOVERNMENT Turkey is democratic, secular and social state governed by the rule of law; committed to the nationalism of Atatürk and based on the principle of the separation of powers;
Legislative power: The Turkish Grand National Assembly
Executive power: President and the Council of Ministers
Judicial power: Independent courts and supreme judiciary organs
EDUCATION SYSTEM
Primary Education: Eight years; includes the education of children in the 6-14 age-group. Compulsory for all male and female citizens.
Secondary Education: Consists of general and vocational-technical high schools that offer at least three years of education.
Higher Education: Includes all educational institutions where an educational programme of at least two years over and above secondary education is implemented. These educate students at associate's, bachelor's, master's or doctorate degree levels.
Primary and secondary education is free of charge in public schools. Higher education institutions, however, charge a certain minimal tuition fee.
COASTLINE 8333 Km. (5000 miles)
Turkey is surrounded by sea on three sides, by the Black Sea in the North, the Mediterranean in the south and the Aegean Sea in theWest. In the northwest there is also an important internal sea, the Sea of Marmara, between the straits of the Dardanelles and the Bosphorus.
GEOGRAPHICAL REGIONS
Turkey has 80 administrative provinces and seven geographical regions. The first four of the seven regions are given the names the seas which are adjacent to them.
- Black Sea Region
- Marmara Region
- Aegean Region
- Mediterranean Region
The other three regions are named in accordance with their location in the whole of Anatolia.
- Central Anatolia Region
- Eastern Anatolia Region
- Southeastern Anatolia Region
FAMOUS LANDMARKS In Istanbul: Ayasofya, Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque, Dolmabahçe Palace, Kariye Museum.
Elsewhere in Turkey: Ancient City of Troy, Ephesus, Aphrodisias, Pergamon, Pamukkale, Göreme-Cappadocia, Mt.Nemrut, Safranbolu, Mevlevi Convent and Museum, Halil Rahman Mosque in Þanlý Urfa.
Istanbul, Safranbolu, Bogazköy-Hattushash, Mt. Nemrut Remains, Xanthos-Lethoon, Divrigi Great Mosque and Hospital, Troy, Pamukkale and Göreme-Cappadocia are registered on the World Heritage List to help preserve them for future generations.
COMPOSITION OF GNP(as of 2001)
Agriculture: 12.9 %
Industry : 25.3 %
Services : 61.8 %
SOME IMPORTANT PRODUCTS
As of 2000, Turkey has the first place in the world in terms of hard-shell nuts, fig and apricot production, fourth in fresh vegetables, grape and tobacco production and seventh in wheat and cotton production. Turkish delight and helva are famous throughout the world.
Turkey is among the leading countries in the world in textiles and ready to wear clothing production. The exports of this sector constitute 37 percent of total industrial exports. The leather processing industry is also very developed in Turkey both in terms of technological level and high production capacity and comes after textiles in terms of export figures.
High-quality handmade Turkish carpets are also one of the main export items of Turkey the most famous and finest pure silk carpets of the world are produced in the small town of Hereke, 60 km east of Ýstanbul.
Turkey is Europe's third largest ceramic producer.
OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION
TIME:
Local time is equal to GMT + 2 hours. Same time zone all over the country(seven hours ahead of U.S. -eastern standard time-)
ELECTRICITY 220 volts a.c. all over Turkey
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Metric and Kilo system
DID YOU KNOW THESE :
1. The only city in the world located on two continents is Istanbul, which has been the capital of three great empires - Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman - for more than 2000 years.
2. The number of archaelogical excavations going on in Turkey every year is at least 150.
3. The oldest known human settlement is in Çatalhöyük, Turkey (7500 B.C.).
4. Ephesus and Halicarnassus - two of the seven wonders of the ancient world - are in Turkey.
5. Anatolia is the birthplace of historic legends, such as Homer (the poet), King Midas, Heredotus (the father of history), and St. Paul the Apostle.
6. Julius Caesar proclaimed his celebrated words, "Veni, Vidi, Vici" (I came, I saw, I conquered) in Turkey when he defeated the Pontus, a formidable kingdom in the Black Sea region of Turkey.
7. The famous Trojan Wars took place in western Turkey, around the site where a wooden statue of the Trojan Horse rests today.
8. The first church built by man (St. Peter's Church) is in Antioch (Antakya), Turkey.
9. Turks introduced coffee to Europe.
10. Turks gave the Dutch their famous tulips.
11. The Amazons originated in Turkey's Northeastern region.
12. The First Ecumenical Council was held in Iznik, Turkey.
13. Writing was first used by people in ancient Anatolia. The first clay tablets - in the ruins of Assyrian Karum (merchant colony) - date back to 1950 B.C.
14. Female deities dominated the Central Anatolian pantheon for thousands of yearsbefore these supernatural powers were transferred to male gods.
15. Abraham was born in Şanlıurfa in Southeast Turkey.
16. The Hittites sold Abraham the cave where he buried his wife Sarah, when the Israelites came to Palestine.
17. St. Nicholas was born in Demre on Turkey's Mediterranean Coast.
18. According to legend, Noah's Ark landed on Mt. Ararat (Ağrı Dağı) in Eastern Turkey.
19. The last meal on Noah's Ark, a pudding with nearly 40 ingredients, is still served throughout Turkey.
20. The last home of Virgin Mary is in Selçuk, Turkey.
21. St. John, St. Nicholas, St. Paul and St. Peter have all lived and prayed in Southern Anatolia.
22. Part of Turkey's Southwestern Shore was a wedding gift that Mark Anthony gave to Cleopatra.
23. Homer was born in Izmir on the west coast of Turkey and he depicted Troy in his Epic the Iliad.
24. Suleyman the Magnificent (the famous Ottoman Sultan) was a poet who wrote over 3000 poems some of them criticising the greed of mankind.
25. One of the biggest and best preserved theatres of antiquity seating 15,000 is Aspendos on the southern coast of Turkey whereinternational music festivals are held each year.
26. Aesop - famous all over the world for his fables and parables - was born in Anatolia.
27. Leonardo da Vinci drew designs for a bridge over the Bosphorus, the strait that flows through Europe and Asia. (It was never built then; but now there are two Bosphorus bridges.).
28. President Woodrow Wilson was fond of telling some of the tales of Nasreddin Hoca (13th century Turkish wit and raconteur; UNESCO has declared a "Nasreddin Hoca year", 1996-1997).
29. Greek Prime Minister Venizelos nominated Turkish President Atatürk for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1934.
30. Alexander the Great conquered a large territory in what is now Turkey - and cut the Gordion Knot in the Phrygian capital (Gordium) not far from Turkey's present-day capital (Ankara).
31. Greek Cynic philosopher Diogenes was born in Sinop on Turkey's Black Sea Coast.
32. Croesus - whose name is synonymous with great wealth - had his kingdom (Lydia) in Western Turkey.
33. The only massive monument erected anywhere in the world for a translator is Istanbul's Dragman Camii (Translator's Mosque, ca.1541).
34. Smallpox vaccination was introduced to England and Europe from Turkey by Lady Montagu in early 18th century (after Turkish phsycians saved her son's life).
35. Istanbul's Robert College, established in 1863, is the oldest American School outside the United States.
36. Throughout history Anatolia - land of Turks has been a bridge between Europe and Asia where people of different origins have come together and mingled with the ones already settled each time creating a new sythesis.
37. Early Christians escaping Roman persecution nearly 2000 years ago sheltered in Cappadocia in Central Anatolia.
38. In 1492 Sultan Beyazıd II, learning about the expulsion of Jews dispatched the Ottoman Navy to bring the Jews safely to the Ottoman lands. Likewise Jews expelled from Hungary in 1376; from Sicily early in the 15th century; from Bavaria in 1470; from Bohemia in 1542 and from Russia in 1881, 1891, 1897, 1903 all took refuge in the Ottoman Empire.
39. As it was the case during the Bolshevik revolution, Turkey served as a safe passage an haven for those fleeing their native countries during the World War II, Turkey was one of the few countries in the world which welcomed the Jewish refugees escaping the horros of Nazism.
40. During the Gulf War in 1991, Turkey welcomed nearly half a million Kurds from Northern Iraq, who were fleeing the torment of Saddam.
41. Turkey provided homes for some 313,000 Bulgarian refugees of Turkish origin expelled from their homelands in Bulgaria in 1989.
42. According to Turkish tradition a stranger at one's doorstep is considered "A Guest from God" and should be accommodated accordingly.
WEB SITES FOR MORE INFORMATION
www.mfa.gov.tr (Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
www.turizm.gov.tr ( Turkish Ministry of Tourism)
www.kultur.gov.tr (Turkish Ministry of Culture) |
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