Turkey Turkey (Turkish: Türkiye) is on the Mediterranean, in the Anatolian region of West Asia, with a small section in Southeastern Europe separated by the Turkish Straits (Bosphorus, Sea of Marmara, and Dardanelles). With the Black Sea to the north and the Aegean Sea in the west and Mediterranean Sea to the southwest, Turkey is surrounded by Bulgaria and Greece to the west, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia to the northeast, Syria, Iraq and Iran to the southeast. There is evidence that the bed of the Black Sea was once an inhabited plain, before it was flooded in prehistoric times by rising sea levels. Mount Ararat (Ağrı Dağı), at 5,165 m is the countrys highest point and legendary landing place of Noahs Ark, lies in the mountains on the far eastern edge of the country. Turkey was founded in 1923 from the remnants of the Ottoman Empire. Soon thereafter the country instituted secular laws to replace traditional religious fiats. In 1945 Turkey joined the UN, and in 1952 it became a member of NATO. Turkey offers a wealth of destination varieties to travellers: from dome-and-minaret filled skyline of Istanbul to Roman ruins along the western and southern coasts, from heavily indendated coastline against a mountainous backdrop of Lycia and wide and sunny beaches of Pamphylia to cold and snowy mountains of the East, from crazy foam parties of Bodrum to Middle Eastern-flavoured cities of Southeastern Anatolia, from verdant misty mountains of Eastern Black Sea to wide steppe landscapes of Central Anatolia, there is something for everyones taste—whether they be travelling on an extreme budget by hitchhiking or by a multi-million yacht. Cities 01. Ankara — the capital of Turkey and its second largest city 02. Antalya — the fastest growing city, hub to an array of beach resorts 03. Bodrum — a trendy coastal town in the Southern Aegean which turns into a crowded city in season when it serves as a playground for Turkish and international holidaymakers alike, featuring a citadel, Roman ruins, trendy clubs and a number of villages surrounding the peninsula each with a different character from classy to rustic 04. Bursa — the first capital of the Ottoman Empire 05. Edirne — the second capital of the Ottoman Empire 06. Eskisehir — The Venice of Turkey, described as one of the most beautiful cities in Anatolia. 07. Istanbul (Constantinople) — Turkeys largest city, the former capital of both the 08. Ottoman and Byzantine Empires, and the only major city in the world to straddle two continents 09. Izmir — Turkeys third largest city 10. Konya — a quite large city that is the heartland of mystic Sufi order, the site of 11. Rumis tomb, and with some elegant Seljuq architecture, all surrounded by vast steppes 12. Trabzon — the wonderful Sümela Monastery is just outside the city and it is a great gateway to exploring the Turkish Northeast 13. Urfa — magical city with beautiful architecture and extremely friendly locals at the gates of Eastern World; where Turkish, Kurdish, Arabic, and Persian cultures mingle Other destinations 14. Flying over the turquoise waters in Ölüdeniz 15. Ani — impressive ruins of medieval Armenian capital in the far east of the country 16. Cappadocia — an area in central highlands best known for its unique moon-like landscape (the fairy chimneys), underground cities, cave churches and houses carved in the rocks 17. Ephesus — well-preserved ruins of the Roman city on the west coast 18. Gallipoli — site of 1915 Anzac landing and many WWI memorials 19. Mount Nemrut — a UNESCO World Heritage site with head statues dedicated to ancient Gods on its summit 20. Ölüdeniz — imcomparable postcard beauty of Blue Lagoon, perhaps the most famous beach of Turkey which you will see on any tourism brochure 21. Pamukkale — the Cotton Castle, white world of travertines surrounding cascading shallow pools filled with thermal waters 22. Sümela — stunning monastery on the cliffs of a mountain, a must-see on any trip to the northeast coast 23. Uludağ — a national park featuring school textbook belts of different types of forests varying with altitude, and the major wintersports resort of the country
Posted on: Sun, 31 Aug 2014 06:37:22 +0000
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