| 
Turkey,the homeland
of civilisations...
A uniquely varied
and beautiful country,Turkey spans the continents of Europe and
Asia.Shaped like a peninsule ,the Asian land mass of Turkey is
surrounded by the Black,Aegan and Meditarrenean Seas.
For thousands of years Anatolia has been the crossroads of history.It
has witnessed the emergence of the Western Civilisations from
the prehistoric periods to the peresent.
Turkey is known
as the most historical rich country in the world,the homeland
of 14 distinct civilisations ditributed richly on 4 main epochs
of the ancient world.These cultures began from the paleolithic
period and continue through Hittiteans, Urarteans, Phrygian, Lydians,
Ionians, early Christians, Byzantines, Selcuks and Ottomans.
No other country
display the abundance of its 12 thousand years of history with
such dignity and hospitality.The cities of Troy, Ephesus, Miletus,
Hattusas, Gordion, The House of the Virgin Mary,Antioch,and Mt.Agrı(Ararat)the
place that Noah's Ark in Çatalhöyük,the oldest Neolithic settlement
in Turkey, we encounter the oldest known city in the world dating
back to 7000 BC.
An Indo-European
people,Hittites,and their history is being reconstructed by deciphering
thousands of cuneiform tables,including the Kades Treatry,the
world's first recorded peace agreement.For instance.The myths and
epics of Hittiteans trevaled extensively trough other cultures
in the world.
Along Turkey's
wonderous Aegean and Meditarrenean coast beast the hearth of classical
culture.Here you will marvel at the wonders of countryside once
described by Homer,Herodutus,and Strabo.Additionally,as a result
of the cultural matrix of 12.000 yeras history,Turkey is homeland
of unique examples of the world's artistry.With more history are
archaeology,art history,architecture,hospitality and kaleidoscope
of cultures than you could have ever possibly imagined.Turkey
has been fascinating the world's travellers since 8.000 BC.
Geography
and Climate
Turkey's land mass is 780.000 sq km,locatet on the continents
of Europe and Asia are divided by Istanbul Bogazı(The Bosphorus
straits),the sea of Marmara,and Çanakkale Boğazı(The Dardanelles
Starits).Turkey is bordered by four seas wiht more than 8.000
kmof coastline.
Turkey is high
plateau region rising progresively toward the east,and is broken
by the valleys of about fifteen rivers,including the Dicle(Tigris)and
Fırat(Euruphates),there are numerous lakes and some,such as Lake
Van,are as large as inland seas.In the north,the eastern Black
Sea Mountain chaine runs parallel to the Black Sea ;in the south,the
Toros Mountains sweep down almost to the narrow,fertile coastal
plain along the Meditarrenean coastal regions.
Population
Turkey has 65 million inhibitants,41% of whom live the countryside.The
major cities are ;Istanbul,Ankara the capital,Izmir,Adana,Antalya,and
Bursa.
Religion
The Turkish population is 95% Moslem.Turkey is a secular state
which has guarantees coplete freedom of worship to Christian,
Jewish, Buddhist, Paganist and Non-Moslems throughout history.
Partical
Structure
Democratic Republic headed by a prime minister and president.
|
