The Republic of Turkey is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. It brings joy with picturesque beaches, mild climate, delicious cuisine, and amicable people.
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Turkey was proclaimed on October 29, 1923.
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It was created after World War I on the ruins of the Ottoman Empire.
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The capital of Turkey is Ankara.
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Turkey is boarded by eight countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Iran, Iraq, and Syria.
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It has a population of about 83 million people.
The population density in Turkey is about 104 people per square kilometer. Turks make up about 85% of the population.
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The total area of the country covers about 784 thousand square kilometers.
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The prevailing currency is the Turkish lira.
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The dominant religion of Turkey is Sunni Islam.
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Despite being a Muslim country, polygamy in Turkey is forbidden.
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The highest region in Turkey is Anatolian Highlands.
Its average altitude is 1,500 meters above sea level, with the highest peak – Erciyes Daği – located at 3,916 meters above sea level.
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The highest peak in Turkey is Mount Ararat, with a height of 5,165 meters above sea level.
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There are no depressive areas in Turkey, and the lowest point is sea level.
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Turkey is divided into seven regions and 81 provinces.
They are the Black Sea region, The Aegean Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, the Sea of Marmara, and eastern, central, and southwest Anatolia.
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The largest city in Turkey is Istanbul.
It is also the world’s only intercontinental city. The population of Istanbul is about 15 million people. In comparison, Ankara has a population of about 4,5 million people.
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The average life expectancy is 72 years for men and 76 years for women.
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The longest river in Turkey is the Kizilirmak River, also known as the Halys River.
Its length is 1,355 kilometers, and it flows into the Black Sea.
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The largest and deepest lake is Lake Van.
It is the world’s largest soda lake.
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In the southern parts of Turkey, one can found houses without roofs. This is by no means an expression of poverty but is connected with family life in the collective.
Families with many children add another tier to their house for each child who starts a family. Wealthier families hire development companies to put up family blocks.
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About 12,000 plant species grow in Turkey, of which about four thousand are endemic.
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The symbol of the Kingdom of the Netherlands – the tulips – comes from Turkey.
Istanbul is the capital of these beautiful flowers, where the Tulip Festival takes place.
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The Turkish alphabet contains 29 letters.
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Within Turkey lies the historical land of Cappadocia.
It was an important center of Christianity until the Middle Ages.
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The most popular alcohol in Turkey is Raki.
It is made of twice-distilled grapes, with an addition of anise.
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Turkey is the world’s first hazelnut exporter.
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The National Sovereignty Day and Children’s Day are celebrated on April 23.
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One of the most popular Turkish dishes is kebab.
The “real” one is served with mutton or lamb.
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Turkey is a very patriotic country.
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In Turkey, one can found two types of toilets – classic and holes in the floor.
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The symbol of Turkey and the symbol of happiness is the Nazar boncuğu.
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One of the oldest and largest markets in the world is Grand Bazaar, located in Istanbul.
It covers 64 streets and is visited by roughly 40,000 people a day.
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Turks do not treat chicken as meat.
It is common to offer chicken as a vegetarian version of a meal.
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Camel wrestling is an annual Turkish festival taking place between November and March.
Male camels wrestle as a response to a female camel in heat led before them. It originated about 1,000 years ago, but since camel wrestling occurs in the wild, it has not been entirely “invented” by people, however popularized. In the 1980s Turkish government claimed camel wrestling as a part of Turkey’s historical culture, despite being criticized by various animal rights organizations.
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St. Nicolas, commonly known as Santa Claus, was born in Patara, Turkey.
He was born around 270-280 AD. At first, St. Nicolas was believed to be a holy man performing miracles, most commonly by saving sailors from sinking ships. The name Santa Claus derives from the Dutch Sinter Klaas.
