GENERAL INFORMATION

Identification Card

Surface Area : 484,351 square miles
2 major regions, Anatolia and Thrace.
Capitol: Ankara
Population : 65,400,000 inhabitants

71 inhab/km2
Currency: Turkish Lira, 1 US dollar= about 1,295,000 Turkish Lira, according to exchange rates
Religion: The majority of the population is Muslim. The government is entirely secular and guarantees freedom of religion for its people.
Political System: Parliamentary Democracy
Head of State: S. Demirel.
Head of Government: Mesut Yilmaz.

National Motto
"Peace at home, peace in the world."

Turkey

Traveling to Turkey means adventuring into a vast region with a prodigious archeological and natural heritage. At the crossroads between Europe and Asia, Turkey is the ideal destination for a real change of scenery. The wealth and diversity of its artistic heritage, built gradually over the centuries and enhanced by the contributions of the many different civilizations that occupied its territories, captivates the visitor. This country abounds with precious treasures; the variety and splendor of its architecture, sculpture, painting, music, dance and other arts is simply astounding. Its cuisine and its astute mix of savory spices, its remarkably hospitable people, the beauty of its countryside and their diversity, are but a few reasons to pack your bags and go to Turkey!

FORMALITIES

Valid Passport (or identification card if you are traveling with an organized tour group.)

LOCATION

Turkey is located between Asia and Europe, the Mediterranean and the black sea and is about a 4 hour flight from London. Surrounded by four Seas, Turkey has more than 5,000 miles of coastline, major cities, tourist and archeological sites and, of course, a warm and welcoming people. Turkey is both a part of the Balkan Peninsula (Phrase) European Turkey, and to the Near East (Anatolia) (Asia Minor).

REGIONS

With the Black Sea to the north, and the Aegean Sea to the west, the Mediterranean and Macramé which separates Anatolia from Phrase, Turkey covers more than 484,351 square miles and has always been a privileged territory for exchange. At the intersection between the Sea of Maramara and the strait of Bosporus, Istanbul the ancient capitol of the Ottoman Empire, was formerly known as Byzantium and Constantinople. The administrative capitol of the country is now located to the east in the center of the country at Ankara.

BUSINESS HOURS

Shop Hours: Monday through Saturday from 9:30 to 2:00 and 5:00 to 8:00. The larger commercial centers usually stay open all day from 10 AM to 9 or 10 PM.

CLIMATE

The country enjoys a great diversity of climates. In the north, the climate is temperate, while in the center it is continental. You will find the typical Mediterranean climate in the regions along the western and southern coastlines. Surrounded by the sea on three sides, Turkey has more than 5,000 miles of coastline.

WHEN TO GO

Marmara, Aegean and Mediterranean Coasts: typical Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters. Tourist season, between June and September for Marmara, becomes progressively longer the farther south you go.
Black Sea Coast: temperate climate: cold and rainy winters, mild summers. Bathing Season: June to August
Central Anatolia: continental climate with hot summers and cold winters. 
Eastern Anatolia: long, hard snowy winters; mild summers.
Southwestern Anatolia: mild but rainy winters, hot and dry summers. However, winters are becoming colder and snowy while temperatures in the summer are becoming milder.

A Little History

Paeleolithic land and land of the Bible, before it became Seljukian and then Ottoman, this region of confluence successively became Greek under the Byzantine Empire, a Roman province under Latin control and then under Emperor Constantine, and finally Muslim under the Ottoman Empire. Judaism, manichaeism, Buddhism, Christianity... the traveling merchants following the Silk Route with their African Ivory came through this region. It's a fascinating territory which the Armenians, Greeks, Arabs, Turks... coming from the steppes of Mongolia or elsewhere, tread upon before you. History is omnipresent in this country full of contrasts. Among the emblematic figures who participated in the building of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal or " Atatürk " symbolizes the history of the people of modern day Turkey. The son of a modest civil servant from Salonica in Macedonia, the brilliant young pupil named "Mustapha" was given the nickname Camel "the excellent one" by his math teacher . This name aptly fits in with his military career: he became lieutenant-colonel then pacha (general) and won independence for his country in 1923. This may be one reason why the Turks consider the army such an honorable institution. Founder of the Turkish Republic in 1924, he was President until his death on November 10th, 1938.

Up until the 15th century: The region was occupied by the Hittites, Persians, Macedonians, Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans.

1453: the fall of Constantinople taken over by the Ottomans who changed its name to Istanbul. This marked the beginning of an empire that would last 3 centuries, up until the early 1800s.

Early 20th century: Turkey sided with the Germans during World War I (which helped to attract many German tourists)
. 1915: Genocide of the Armenians
. 1918: Allied occupations due to Turkey's defeat.
. 1920: Atatürk is in power and enters into war with Greece.
. 1923: Declaration of the Republic. Ankara becomes the capitol and Ataturk becomes president.
. 1925: The birth of modern and secular Turkey.
. 1938: Death of Ataturk
. 1947: Because Turkey remained neutral during World War 2, it was able to benefit from the Marshall Plan.
. 1950-1952: Pro-western politics and becomes a part of NATO.
. 1960-1980: Political and socioeconomic crises, army attempts several coup d'états.
. The 80's: Implementation of liberal policies, privatizations and opening of the country to foreign capital.
. 1989: Turkey applies for membership into the European Community.
. 1992: Kurdish opposition army (PKK) in southwestern Turkey..
. 1999 : August, a violent earthquake near Istanbul causes several thousand deaths. Another less violent earthquake shook the country at the end of the same year.