Turkey

Description of Turkey

The European part of Turkey, East Thrace or Rumelia, is a hilly plateau situated about 1,000 meters above sea level. The Asian part, Asia Minor or Anatolia, is bounded by mountain ranges: in the north by the Pontus Mountains, in the south by the Taurus Mountains. Between the mountain ranges the Anatolian Plateau is located, with an average altitude of 1000 meters above sea level, cut by river valleys and volcanic cones. The highest mountain of Western Anatolia, Uludag, near Bursa has a height of 2543 meters, and the Great Ararat (in Turkish - Agri) in Eastern Anatolia reaches even 5165 meters. According to legend, there is the Noah's Ark on Ararat, the remains of which are still not found.

Turkey shares its borders with Greece and Bulgaria in the west, with Georgia, Armenia and Iran in the east, and with Iraq and Syria in the south. Turkey is also washed by three seas: in the south – by the Mediterranean, in the west - the Aegean, and in the north – the Black. Waterway corridor consisting of the Sea of Marmara, the Bosporus and the Dardanelles, divides it into the European and Asian parts and serves as a natural way from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean and then to the Atlantic. Land boundaries are of 2700 km, coastline - 6000 km.

The country has a republican government proclaimed on October 29, 1923. Legislative power belongs to the Parliament. Executive power is exercised by the President and the Council of Ministers. The president is elected by the Parliament for seven years’ term.

Some facts about Turkey

Gallery of Turkey

Turkey video guide

More information about Turkey

Top cities of Turkey