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About Turkey
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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):
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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
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Aegean Region
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Mediterranean Region
▪
Central Anatolia Region
▪ Eastern Anatolia Region
▪
South-eastern Anatolia Region
Famous landmarks:
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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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