General information about Turkey
Official name: The Republic of Turkey (Türkiye Cumhuriyeti).
Founder: Mustafa Kemal ATATÜRK (1881-1938).
Location: Eastern Mediterranean. Located on two continents: Europe and
Asia. The European part of Turkey is called Trakya (Thrace), while the Asian
part is called Anadolu (Anatolia or Asia Minor).
Area: 814 578 km2. 3% on the European continent. 97% on the Asian
continent.
Capital: ANKARA
Population: 67.8 million (as of 2002).
Literacy rate: 1935-19.25%, 2001-86.60%.
Major cities (as of 2002):
▪ Istanbul: 10 million
▪ Ankara: 4 million
▪ Izmir: 3.4 million
▪ Bursa: 2.1 million
▪ Konya: 2.2 million
▪ Adana: 1.8 million
Language: Turkish (uses Latin Alphabet).
Currency: Turkish Lira (TL).
Religion: 99% of the population is Muslim. Turkey is the only country
among Islamic countries, which has included secularism in her Constitution
and guarantees complete freedom of worship to non-Muslims.
Flag: Red background with a white crescent and star in the middle.
National anthem:
▪ "Istiklal Marsi" (Independence March)
▪ Lyrics by: Mehmet Akif Ersoy
▪ Adopted as Turkey's National Anthem on March 12, 1921
State information
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
Education system:
▪ Primary Education: Eight years, includes the education of children in
the 6-14 age-group. Compulsory for all male and female citizens.
▪ Secondary Education: Consists of general and vocational-technical high
schools that offer at least three years of education.
▪ Higher Education: Includes all educational institutions where an
educational programme of at least two years over and above secondary
education is implemented. These educate students at associate's, bachelor's,
master's or doctorate degree levels.
▪ Primary and secondary education is free of charge in public schools.
Higher education institutions, however, charge a certain minimal tuition fee.
Geographical information
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 the seas which are adjacent to them.
▪ Black Sea Region
▪ Marmara Region
▪ Aegean Region
▪ Mediterranean Region
▪ Central Anatolia Region
▪ Eastern Anatolia Region
▪ South-eastern Anatolia Region
Famous landmarks:
▪ In Istanbul: Ayasofya, Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque, Dolmabahçe Palace,
Kariye Museum.
▪ Elsewhere in Turkey: Ancient City of Troy, Ephesus, Aphrodisias, Pergamon,
Pamukkale, Göreme-Cappadocia, Mt. Nemrut, Safranbolu, Mevlevi Convent and
Museum, Halil Rahman Mosque in Sanli Urfa. Istanbul, Safranbolu, Bogazköy-Hattushash,
Mt. Nemrut Remains, Xanthos-Lethoon, Divrigi Great Mosque and Hospital, Troy,
Pamukkale and Göreme-Cappadocia are registered on the World Heritage List to
help preserve them for future generations.
Economy
Composition of GNP (as of 2001):
▪ Agriculture: 12.9 %
▪ Industry : 25.3 %
▪ Services : 61.8 %
Some important products: As of 2000, Turkey has the first place in the
world in terms of hard-shell nuts, fig and apricot production, fourth 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 in the world in textiles and ready
to wear clothing production. The exports of this sector constitute 37
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 and comes after textiles in terms of export figures.
High-quality handmade Turkish carpets are also one of the main export
items of Turkey the most famous and finest pure silk carpets of the world
are produced in the small town of Hereke, 60 km east of Istanbul.
Turkey is Europe's third largest ceramic producer.
Other useful information
Time: Local time is equal to GMT + 2 hours. Same time zone all over the
country
Electricity: 220 volts a.c. all over Turkey
Weight and measures: Metric and Kilo system
Web sites for more information:
▪ Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. www.mfa.gov.tr
▪ Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism. www.kultur.gov.tr |
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