TURKEY

Turkey

Turkey has boundaries with the neighbouring countries,such as Greece, (212kms/131 miles)and Bulgaria ( 269 kms/167 miles)in the West, Armenia, Georgia, very little part of Azerbaycan( 610kms/380 miles) and Iran( 454 km/ 280 miles) in the East, Syria (877 kms/540 miles) and Irag (331kms/205miles on the south .Turkey is a rectangular shape with a length 1660km/1031 miles and a width of 550 km/341 miles.and is stretching between 26 degrees north to 42 degree north, and from 26 east to 45 east. Turkey has 8200 kms sea shores. Because of these long coastal borders and being a bridge between the continents of Asia and Europe, Turkey had been the center of the major commerce and immigration roads. Ankara has been the capital of Turkey since 1924.

Turkey

Because of the geographical format ion of the country with mountains that run paral le l to the coasts, Anatol ia is a focal point of contrast ing cl imates. While in the coasta l areas winters are mild and summers are moderately hot . , the in land areas experience extremes of temperature. The hot summers have high dayt ime temperatures wi th general ly cool n ights and the cold winters have l imi ted precipi tat ion with f rost occuring on more than 100 days dur ing the year.

In the Mediterrenean, Agean and Southern Marmara regions, the general Mediterrenean cl imate is dominant; summers are hot and dry, winters are mild and rainy. Frosts are rare and snowfal l is a lmost unknown.The Black Sea region enjoys mild winters and a fa ir amount of ra infal l throuhgout the year. In Centra l Anatol ia, a typical p lateau cl imate prevei ls where the summers are hot wi th minimum precipi ta t ion, and winters are cold with heavy and last ing snows. Vi l lages may be isaolated by severe snowstorms. Eastern Anatol ia is rugged country with h igher elevat ions, a more severe cl imate and greater precipi tat ion than the central p lateau. The cl imate of th is region is most inhospi table Summers are hot and extremely dry, winters are bi t ter ly co ld. Spr ing and Autumn are both subject to sudden hot and cold spel ls. The rainfal l is maximum in the middle and eastern coasts of the Black Sea and the western part of the Medi terrenean. I t is minimum around the Lake Salt in Central Anatol ia. This is the rainfa l l avarage al l over Turkey.

CLIMATE

Turkey is one of about 8 countries in the world which consistently produces surplus food and cattle for export.Turkey is believed to be rich in a wide variety of mineral deposits which are mostly governed by the state sector.

NATURAL RESOURCES

36 % agr icul tural land 30 % forests and brushwood 28 % graz ing land 6 % swamps,r iver beds,rocks and water surfaces

Agr icul ture accounts for less than 20 % of the GNP, al though i t employs wel l over hal f of the nat ional labor force.Agr icul tura l product ion is general ly carr ied out by smal l fami ly enterpr ises in Turkey. 5 % of the farm land belongs to the large enterpr ises and 95 % to smal ler concerns. 77 % of the cul t ivated land produces grain wi th wheat ranking as the f i rst . Wheat is common al l over the country except in the Black Sea region. Bar ley ranks as second, corn is th i rd. Corn requires humid weather condi t ions dur ing summer t ime, so the Black Sea region is very sui table for i ts growth. Vegetables accounts for 62 % of agr icul tural product ion.

Lent i ls,chickpeas and beans are common. Broad beans and peas also grow in Turkey but on a smal ler basis. Chickpeas grow in Centra l Anatol ia, broad beans in western parts and lent i ls especial ly in Souteastern Anatol ia. The growing of potatoes has recent ly icreased. Industr ial vegetables such as cot ton, f lax,sesame seeds and opium poppies have been grown for a long t ime in Turkey but s ince the industr ial developments af ter wor ld war I new industr ial vegetables such as sugar beet , sunf lower seed and tea have also been produced.

TURKEY’S TOTAL LAND

The greatest wealth of Turkey is probably history. The Anatolian peninsula where Turkey is located. was the home of many great civi l izations throughout the history of man. Turkey is also the sett ing for many important rel igious events and legends. The ark of Noah landed on Mount Ağrı in eastern Turkey, and Saint Nicolai, Santa Clause, l ived in southern Turkey around Antalya. First money was used by Lydians where Turkey is now. Hatt is, Asurians, Baburs are among the countless civi l izat ions that rose and fel l in Anatolia. Greeks, Romans, Byzantians, Seljuk Turks, Ottomans reigned over Anatolia at different points in history. Epic batt les were fought on these lands, from the thousands of years old batt le of Troy and the early 20th century`s f ierce batt le of Gall ipol i near Dardanelles (Canakkale).

All these civi l izations and landmark events left their marks in Anatol ia, creating a unique culture and an intense historical atmosphere.

HİSTORİCAL PLACES İN TURKEY

NATURAL WONDERS OF TURKEY

Cappadocia: Cappadocia is known for its ancient cave dwellings carved in to the rocks, however, if the place wasn’t so utterly beautiful to begin with, maybe Cappadocia wouldn’t enjoy as much attention because it does now. The initial historical and cultural heritage from the region is fascinating, however the sheer natural beauty from the fairy chimneys and interesting rock formations is certainly enough to create anyone be interested in this place.

Pamukkale: Pamukkale describes a cotton castle, the industry natural spot in Denizli Province within the southwestern area of the country. The town has hot springs and travertines, terraces of carbonate minerals in the flowing water. An overall total of 17 hot springs are available in the region with temperatures which range from 35 degrees Celsius reaching 100 degrees Celcius. Once in Pamukkale, be sure to go to the top three places including Pamukkale, Karahayt, and also the Plateau.

Kaymakli Underground City: Kaymakli Underground City was built under Citadel of Kaymakli and was available to the general public in 1964. It’s location reaches Nevsehir-Nigde road and highly accessible by car or motorcycle. There’s a total of eight levels, only four are available to visitors and may accommodate 5000 folks. The very first floor can be used to accommodate animals, whereas the 2nd floor can be used like a church. The following floor is really a food storage where wine, wheat and flour are stored, and also the last floor is really a bigger food storage, which only implies that underground individuals are also having a quality life. Tunnels are extremely low, narrow and steep so claustrophobic people in addition to individuals with heart ailments, aren’t advised to visit.

Koprulu Canyon: Koprulu Canyon is among the wildest places in Turkey. The canyon includes a period of 14 kilometres, also it extends across the river Koper. The very best look around the canyon would be to have a part within an organized rafting trip.

Fethiye

İstanbul

Antalya

TRADİTİONAL FOODS

Yufka: 1 mm thin.Contains flour, water and salt.

BREAD

Lavaş:Made from leavened dough. The doughs cook on the hot tandır walls.

ENTREE STARTER

Stuffed grape leaves with olive oil

Mücver with squash

İçli köfte:

Stuffed eggplant with lemon, garlic, sauce and mint

Meatballs stuffed with cracked wheat

MAİN DİSHES

Etliekmek: bread with ground meat layer on top

Rice with chick pea

Manti served in broth

Whole aubergines fried and slitted with seasoned minced meat

DESSERTMaraş ice creamBaklava with Antep

pistachio

Baked rice pudding

Güllaç : rose pudding

Helva: a sweetmeat like dessert mostly made with samolina or flour

Lokma: Baked soft pastry dipped in thick syrup

KONYA SCIENCE AND ART

CENTER FROM TURKEY