Turkey It is one of the largest countries in the Middle East and in Europe. It is located partially in southern Europe and western Asia. Its Asian part (Anatolia) is separated from Europe by the straits of the Dardanelles and the Bosphorus, bordered by Armenia, Georgia, Iran, Syria and Iraq. The European part of Turkey (Thrace) is a hilly plateau, bordered by Greece and Bulgaria.
The country is washed by four seas: Aegean, Black, Mediterranean and Marmara.
The highest point in Turkey is Mount Ararat, which is located in the south of the country, near Lake Van.
The population in 2009 was 72.6 million people, the bulk of it is represented by the Turks, 18% - Kurds. Also, representatives of the ethnic groups of the North Caucasus (Karachais, Adygs, Abkhazians, Ingush, Dagestanis, Abazins, Ossetians and Chechens), Arabs, Jews, Albanians, Greeks, Azerbaijanis, Albanians, Georgians and Russians live in the country.
The official language of Turkey is Turkish, but in Arabic it is spoken along with it. German and English are quite common.
The national currency is the Turkish lira. Money exchange can be made in hotels, banks. Buying a large amount of lire does not make sense, since everywhere there is the opportunity to pay in euros or dollars.
The vast majority of the country's population (99%) professes Islam. In addition to Muslims, followers of Judaism and Christianity (Syrian-Orthodox, Greek and Armenian) also live here. Turkey is very tolerant of various religious movements.
Turkey - the capital and major cities
The population of Ankara, the capital of Turkey, in 2011 was 4,890,893 people. The city is located in the central part of the country (Anatolia) and has a myriad of architectural monuments that are certainly worth a visit.
It offers tourists about 20 large hotels of various levels and the Susuzkey Mokami campsite, located near Ankara. Also outside the city (30 km) is the Esenboga Airport - the center of domestic air traffic.
There are enough restaurants and bars in Ankara, most of them offer local cuisine, but you can also find European establishments. Salman Street ("Copper Alley") is the most crowded and attractive for tourists.
A huge number of shops and craft workshops sell all kinds of copper products and souvenirs: dishes, mugs, jugs, candle holders and other utensils, the average price of which is $ 30. You can also purchase a good Turkish handmade carpet.
There are many modern shopping centers and shops in Ankara: Burberry's, Calvin Klein, Polo, Beymen and others.
Ankara is of more interest to businessmen and admirers of excursion tours.
You can also name such large cities as Istanbul, Antalya, Izmir, Adana and Bursa.
Turkey - holidays and tours
In Turkey, resorts are available for every taste. Almost all the beaches here are clean and sandy, without sharks and jellyfish, there are no industrial enterprises nearby. The most popular resorts are located on the Mediterranean coast.
Also in Turkey there are many health resorts with mineral and thermal springs (Pammukale, Cesme, Yalova, Bursa).
In Turkey, every city has a huge historical heritage, in the country there are a large number of different monuments of ancient civilizations, therefore excursion tours are quite popular here.
Ski lovers can visit Palandoken and Uludag.
The country has many places suitable for diving (Kemer, Kalkan, Falls, Kyrgyzstan and Mersin) and rafting.
For those who want to see the life of the local population in the outback, a jeep safari is offered. Such an active form of recreation makes it possible to visit the corners of nature untouched by man and try fish caught in the presence of tourists from the cleanest mountain lakes.
Turkey - Attractions
Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city, is already a landmark in itself. It is the only city on the planet located simultaneously on two continents. Here is the famous Hagia Sophia, which will be interesting for Russian tourists to visit, since it was in it that the ambassadors of Prince Vladimir met with the basics of the Christian faith.
The Ahmediye Mosque (Blue Mosque) for many symbolizes Turkey. Also in Istanbul there is another famous mosque - Seleiman-Jami, it is also called the "mosque of the Sultan of Suleiman." Sultan Suleiman was married to the Ukrainian beauty Roksolana and remained faithful to her until the end of his days.
The real pride of Istanbul is the bridge over the Bosphorus, connecting the European and Asian coasts of Turkey, its length is 1360 meters.
In Ankara, one of the most ancient cities of this country, the remains of the temple of Augustine and Roma are located, not far from it is the Hadji Bayram mosque. In the historical center of the city you can see the tower of Ak-Kalu, erected in the 6th century. The wall around the tower has a very heterogeneous appearance, since each of the conquerors restored it in its own way.
Antalya resort is famous not only for its chic hotels and pristine beaches, but also for its historical heritage. It is here that the gates of Hadrian are located, built in honor of the arrival of the Roman emperor in the city. The symbol of the resort is the minaret of the Yilvi Mosque, which was built in the 11th century.
The city of Izmir is considered the third largest in Turkey. He is the birthplace of the famous Homer. Here you can look at the Yakhla mosque, decorated with bright tiles, and visit the hot springs of Balchov.
The land of Cappadocia is famous for its unique landscape, difficult to verbal descriptions. Her hallmark is the ancient underground cities founded by the first Christians who fled from Roman persecution.
A visit to the ancient cities of Priene, Ephesus, Pergamum and Mileet will be unforgettable. And now the excavations of the legendary city of Troy are underway, on which they find a lot of mysterious and interesting.
Turkey - weather (climate)
In Turkey, you can simultaneously find all seasons. For example, in the spring, in the south, people enjoy the Mediterranean Sea and the sun with might and main, and at the same time they ski in the mountains. In the Black Sea region, heavy rains occur in spring, and the entire south-eastern Anatolia is still covered with snow. The daily temperature difference in some places can reach 20 degrees.
Less attractive is the climate of Istanbul and the Sea of Marmara. Rainy, cool winters are followed by wet, hot summers. On the northern slopes of the Black Sea region, it rains almost all year round, it is an area covered with evergreen vegetation.
Cold winters and hot, dry summers are characterized by the central plateau of Anatolia. A little east, high pressure provokes heavy snowfalls in October-May. In the south and southeast, there are usually hot summers and dry frosty winters.
Weather in Turkey now:
Turkey - Cuisine
Turkish cuisine is very diverse and tasty. She absorbed the traditions of many peoples of the Caucasus and Asia, from which over time a kind of symbiosis turned out.
Kebab (a type of barbecue), dolma (a type of cabbage rolls in grape leaves) and manti are very popular among tourists.
Dishes are served with a huge number of various snacks laid out on a large tray. Various seafood are also widespread.
This is a real paradise for the sweet tooth - the bulbul of jujasa, sutlach and baklava will not leave indifferent any gourmet.
Of the drinks, Turkish coffee, tea and Ayran are very popular. You can try cancer (aniseed vodka diluted with water 1: 1).
Turkey - interesting facts
When entering a private house, it is customary to leave shoes at the entrance.
Do not drink tap water, it is better to use bottled water, which is sold in every store.
Turkey - visa application
Russians do not need a visa to travel to Turkey. It is issued for an hour at any customs point and to receive it you only need a passport.
Entry visa will cost $ 20.
Turkey - Embassy
119121, Moscow, 7th Rostovskiy Lane, building No. 12
tel. (+7 095) 246-0010
Map of turkey
