country
overview
Official Name : The Republic of Turkey (Türkiye Cumhuriyeti)
Founder : Mustafa Kemal ATATÜRK ( 1881-1938 )
Population : 70 million (as of 2003)
Language : Turkish (uses Latin Alphabet)
Currency : New Turkish Lira ( YTL )
Location : Eastern Mediterranean. Located on two contitents Europe and
Asia. The European part of Turkey is called Thrace, while the Asian part is
called Anatolia or ( Asia Minor )
Religion : 99 percent of the population is Muslim. Turkey is a secular
state that assures complete freedom of worship to non-Muslims.
National Anthem : “ Istiklal Marsi ” , Lyrics by : Mehmet Akif
Ersoy, Adopted as Turkey’s National Anthem on March 12,1921
Government : Turkey is democratic, secular and social state governed
by the rule of law; committed to the nationalism of Atatürk and based on the
principle of the separation of powers; Legislative Power : The Turkish Grand
National Assembly, Executive Power : President and the
Council of Ministers, Judicial Power : Independent courts and supreme
judiciary organs.
Coastline : 8333 Km. (5000 miles). Turkey is surrounded by sea on
three sides, by the Black Sea in the north, the Mediterranean in the south and
the Aegean Sea in the west. In the northwest there is also an important internal
sea, the Sea of Marmara, between the straits of the Dardanelles and the
Bosphorus.
Geographical Regions : Turkey has 80 administrative provinces
and seven geographical regions. The first four of the seven regions are given
the names of the seas which are adjacent to them. Black Sea Region, Marmara
Region, Aegean Region, Mediterranean Region. The other three regions are named
in accordance with their location in the whole of Anatolia; Central Anatolia
Region, Eastern Anatolia Region, Southeastern Anatolia Region.
Famous Landmarks : Ayasofya Museum, Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque,
Dolmabahçe Palace, ancient City of Troy, Ephesus, Aphrodisias, Pergamon,
Pamukkale, Göreme- Cappadocia, Mt.Nemrut, Safranbolu.
Some important products : As of 1998, Turkey is the world's largest
producer of hard-shell nuts, fig and apricot, the fourth STET in fresh
vegetables, grape and tobacco production and seventh in wheat and cotton
production. Turkish delight and helva are famous throughout the world.
Turkey is among the leading countries worldwide in textiles and ready-to-wear
clothing production. The exports of this sector constitutes 36 percent of total
industrial exports. The leather processing industry is also very developed in
Turkey, both in terms of technological level and high production capacity. It
places second to textiles in terms of export figures.
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