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Turkey
Republic of Turkey
Turkiye Cumhuriyeti in Turkish
Things to Know
Turkey is a land bridge connecting Europe and Asia.
Capital: Ankara
Southwestern Asia
(the part west of the Bosporus is sometimes
included with Europe)
97% of Turkey is in Asia and this part is called Anatolia or Asia
Minor; 3% is in Europe which is called Thrace. Although 97% of Turkey
is located in Asia, in many respects it is accepted as a European
country. Turkey takes its place in nearly all European contests and associations.
Map
of Turkey
Black
Sea Map
Turkey is a country located at a point where the
3 continents of the old world (Asia, Africa and Europe) are closest
to each other and where Asia and Europe meet.
Turkey is one of the most earthquake-prone areas
of the world.
FEMA
for Kids: Earthquakes
Stories, recipe (Tasty Quake), games, and more.
Ethnic groups:
Turkish 80%, Kurdish 20%
Religions:
Muslim 99.8% (mostly Sunni), other 0.2% (mostly
Christians and Jews). Although 99% Muslim, Turkey is a secular state.
There is no state religion.
Languages:
Turkish (official), Kurdish, Arabic, Armenian, Greek
Animals
The beautiful Van
cat is a native of Turkey: it has pure white fur and
different-colored eyes - one blue, one green. You're likely to see
cattle, horses, donkeys, goats and sheep throughout Turkey. Turkish
shepherds are proud of their, Kangal
sheepdogs which guard the flocks from wolves.
Bird life is exceptionally rich with eagles, vultures and storks, as well as rare species such as the bald
ibis.
Turkish
Angora Cats-One of the most ancient and purest longhaired
cat breeds ever discovered.
Angora Rabbits originated in Ankara, Turkey.
Denizli Rooster
The Denizli rooster has been raised in Denizli since ancient times.
Caretta-Caretta-A
Mediterranean Sea turtle that has been added to the protected species list.
Land
The Black Sea Region has a steep, rocky
coast with cool waters and rocky mountains. The Black Sea coastal
strip is covered with hazelnut
trees. Turkey produces 65 percent of the world's hazelnuts.
Sinop which has been a port for 1000 years and is still one of the biggest
in the Black Sea.
The
Rumeli Fortress
Built in 1452 by Sultan Mehmet II prior to the
conquest of Istanbul
Aegean Region
The Aegean region consists mainly of rolling
plateau country well suited to agriculture with olive groves, rocky
crags and pine woods. The Aegean region has a mild climate of wet
winters and hot, dry summers. Izmir is the gateway to the Aegean region.
Mediterranean Region
The narrow coastal plains of the Mediterranean
region is separated from Anatolia by the Taurus Mountains. Fertile
soils and a warm climate make the area ideal for growing citrus
fruits, grapes, figs, bananas, various vegetables, barley, wheat,
and, in irrigated areas, rice and cotton.
Anatolian Plateau
Stretching inland from the Aegean coastal plain,
the plateau-like, semiarid highlands of Anatolia are considered the
heartland of the country.
Central Anatolian Region Tuz
Gölü (Salt Lake)
Derinkuyu
Underground City-The underground cities have about 8 stories dug
into the earth.
Pontus and Taurus Mountains
The Pontus Mountains in the north are an
interrupted chain of folded highlands that generally parallel the
Black Sea coast. The southern slopes--facing the Anatolian
Plateau--are mostly unwooded, but the northern slopes contain dense
growths of both deciduous and evergreen trees. The Taurus
Mountains are the westernmost branch of the great mountain chain
that stretchesacross all of Asia -- the Himalayan mountain belt.
Relief map Taurus
Mountains.
Eastern Highlands
Eastern Anatolia, where the Pontus and Taurus
mountain ranges converge, is rugged country with high elevations and
a severe climate (severe winters with heavy snowfalls). The region is
known as the Anti-Taurus. Mount
Ararat, at 5,166 meters the
highest point in Turkey, is located in the Anti-Taurus.
Turkey's largest lake, Lake
Van, is situated in the mountains at an elevation of 1,546
meters. Lake Van originated in 1441 from the explosion of the Nemrut volcano.
Most of eastern Anatolia comprises the area known
historically as Kurdistan. Nemrud
Dagi- Photographs, descriptions, and history of this terraced
mountain in eastern Anatolia.
Arabian Platform
The Arabian Platform is in southeast Anatolia
south of the Anti-Taurus Mountains. It is a region of rolling hills
and a broad plateau surface that extends into Syria.
Games
Mysteries of Çatalhöyük
Explore an archaeological dig through games, activities and other
experiments at this site about a 9,000 year old village found in
modern-day Turkey.
Read
Hodja and the Mixed-up Feet
Turkish
Fairy Tales
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk (1881-1938)
A national hero and founder of the Turkish Republic.
Fun
Facts
Camel Wrestling
While the Spanish have bullfights, the Italians cockfights, and the
English go hunting with hounds, the Turks have camel wrestling
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