Information about Turkey Area 814.578 km² Land Borders Europe – Greece and Bulgaria, Asia – Syria, Iran, Iraq, Armenia and Georgia Sea Borders Black, Marmara, Aegean and Mediterranean Seas Capital Ankara Form of Government Parliamentary Democracy Climate Mediterranean climate on South and West, continental climate in interior. Population Approx. 80.2 million Households 11,188,636 Population Growth 1,8 % Administrative Units 81 Provinces, 892 Districts Degree of Urbanisation Approx. 60 % Economic Centres Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Adana, Bursa Number of industrial Companies 11,206 Official Language Turkish Business Languages German, English, French Religion 99% Islam Flight Time From Western Europe, 3-4 hours Time Difference 1-2 hours with Western Europe This country has always been the dividing line between East and West. The Persian king Xerxes, the Greeks and the Romans, as well as Alexander the Great waged war in this land that was and is called „Asia Minor“. It was here that Caesar spoke his famous words: "Veni, vidi, vici" (I came, I saw, I conquered). The country is a paradise of sun, sea, lakes and mountains. Anyone who wants to enjoy life here must be prepared to change his way of life and to leave his hectic lifestyle behind in Europe. If you are generous and understanding, you will simply laugh away the little things and allow the country’s fascination to work its effect on you. Enjoy the four seasons in this wonderful country between Europe and Asia. Turkey is the only country in the world to be spread over two continents (4% of the landmass and half of Istanbul lies in Europe, the rest is in Asia). There are around 1,500 archaeological excavation sites, 3 natural wonders (the first is Pamukkale; the second Peri Bacalri, Fairy Wonderland in Ürgüp- Cappadocia; the third is the Paradise-Hell Cave (Cennet – Cehennem Mağarası) in Mersin) and a man-made wonder of the world (Sümela Manastir; a Christian monastery in Trabzon) to be seen and to be wondered at. The changes came about because of the toppling of the Caliphate in 1922 by Kemal Atatürk, the father of the Turks. He brought about many changes and reforms in the country. He did away with the difficult Arabic alphabet and replaced it with the Latin one. He introduced compulsory attendance at schools and banned the fez (the male head covering). Women no longer had to wear the veil, were awarded political rights and female equality was guaranteed. Name giving was also reformed. Since 1934, surnames have been in existence. The death of Kemal Atatürk in 1938 dealt a severe blow to Turkey. Atatürk is still highly revered today, not only because he gave Turks a new life, but also a new image in the eyes of the world. For this reason, there is an Atatürk Monument in every town and city. Despite Westernisation, Turkey is and will remain an Islamic country. The proverbial friendliness has its root in the old traditions and should be accepted all over by you. Everyone, who comes into close contact with Turks will value their worth, their pride and their unbelievable talent for improvisation as number one in the world. Turkey is like an " Open Sesame" and is a country where you are quickly made to feel at home. CAPPADOCIA Cappadocia is an indescribably beautiful and interesting area, where snow and rain, wind and sun have eroded the tuff and formed thousands of pyramid-shaped formations, which lend the landscape a bizarre dreamlike quality. These earth-pyramids and fen-chimneys lie 50 km to the east of the former 3916m high Erciyes Dagi volcano, the former Argaios. The huge eruption of this volcano caused a huge layer of ash to be deposited all around the mountains. This quantity of ash later solidified, during which time the rivers and streams eroded ravine-like channels in the layer of tuff, through which whole forests of skittles grew up, which reached as far as the southern banks of the River Kizilirmak (Halys). Sometimes the skittles are isolated sometimes they are grouped in tight clusters with sharp tips. Some of them carry a hat of hard rock, which could counter erosion better and others have folds with soft lines. To the beauty and geographical richness of this landscape belong the interesting history and archaeology of the area. Houses and churches are carved into the base of the rock walls or the skittles. In former times, they were the sanctuaries of the Christian population of Anatolia before the Arab invasions (7th-13th Centuries AD). It is known that the Apostle Paul sought sanctuary here from his persecutors and founded a Christian colony here with his friends. ISTANBUL Istanbul is a city of wonders far exceeding what words can tell! That's why we thought you might want to take a closer look at this spectacular city divided into two continents by the Bosphorus. 130 wonderful photographs of historical sights, brigdes, houses, specialty stores, the Bosphorus and of course the mesmerizing Istanbul twilight will tell you more than a thousand words. Today, the largest city in Turkey has 12 million inhabitants. It lies at 41 degrees north, like Naples. Compared to Naples, the climate is raw, because of the cold, north wind. The summer months are very pleasant by the sea. Istanbul is the only city in the world that is divided between two continents. Its main part lies on the south-eastern tip of Europe and is separated from the Asiatic part by the Bosphorus. The European part of the town is divided into two by an arm of the sea, the so-called "Golden Horn". The old Stambul lies to the south and the northern parts are Galata and Beyoglu. This part contains the old Scutari and the Turkish Üsküdar, which is situated on the Asian bank of the Bosphorus. The three names of the city represent the three great époques; Byzantium, Constantinople and Istanbul. It is characterised by the brightness of the old Byzantium, the glory days of Süleyman, the splendour and the bustle of the bazaars. Hardly any other world city has such a fascinating history as Istanbul – from its foundation by the Emperor Constantine to its conquest by the Turks. You can come across each of these eras in modern Istanbul. Countless cupolas and minarets characterise the silhouette of this unforgettable and lively city. BOSPHORUS The translation of Bosphorus is "Ox leap" and it owes its name to old mythology: Io, the beautiful priestess of Hera, one of the many lovers of Zeus, was changed into a cow by the father of the gods. In order to protect herself from the horsefly, which had been sent by the jealous Hera, this “cow“ emerged onto the Bosphorus and tried to cross the straits. The Bosphorus connects the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara. It is 31.7 Km long . at its narrowest point it is 660m wide and 4.7Km at its widest. Its average depth is 70 m. in the Bosphorus, there are two counteracting currents. The upper current is made up of water from the Black Sea, which is less salty and therefore moves swifter than the lower quickly evaporating Sea of Marmara, whilst a current lying at 40 m deep the thick and salty water of the Sea of Marmara flows towards the Black Sea. Both, up to the 300-m climbing banks of the Bosphorus are largely taken up with harbours, bays and inlets. palaces, fortresses and villages with thousands of cypresses, pines, Judas trees, plantations adorn this dream landscape between Europe and Asia. PAMUKKALE (Hierapolis) Located 20 kilometers from the town of Denizli in the Aegean region of Turkey, Pamukkale is one of the most interesting places in the world, justly famous not only for the entrancing beauty of its unique geological formations but also for its historical remains. The calcium oxide-rich waters flowing down the southern slope of Caldag located north of the ruins have, over the millennia, built up deposits of white travertine on the plateau thus fully justifying both the site's ancient name of Hierapolis (Holy City) and its modern one of Pamukkale (Cotton Castle). PERGE Perge a city in the region of Pamphylia in southern Asia Minor. It had impressive gates, towers, aqueducts, and public buildings. A stadium and theater contributed to regional cultural life. A gymnasium, adorned with statues, was dedicated to the emperor Claudius. PERGA (mod. Murtana), an ancient city of Pamphylia, situated about 8 m. inland, at the junction of a small stream (Sari Su) with the Cestrus. It was a centre of native influences as contrasted with the Greek, which were predominant in Attalia, and it was a great seat of the worship of Queen Artemis, here represented as a human-headed cone and a purely Anatolian nature goddess. There Paul and Barnabas began their first mission in Asia Minor (Acts ix. 13). A much frequented route into Phrygia and the Maeander valley began at Perga, and Alexander made it the starting-point of his invasion of inner Asia Minor. Long the metropolis of Pamphylia Secunda, it was superseded in Byzantine times by its port, Attalia, which became a metropolis in 1084. The extensive ruins all lie in the plain south of the Acropolis. The walls are well preserved, but of late Roman or Byzantine reconstruction. The lines of intersecting streets can be easily made out, and there are ruins of two sets of~ baths, two basilicas and a forum. But the most notable monument is the theatre, which lies outside the walls on the south-west, near the stadium. This is as perfect as those of Myra and Patara, but larger than either, and yields the palm only to those of Aspendus and Side. Modern Murtana is a large village, long under the dominion of the Dere Beys of the Tekke Oglu family. ST. NICHOLAS The true story of Santa Claus begins with Nicholas, who was born during the third century in , a village in what is now Turkey. In Demre ( Kale ), formerly known as Myra, 25 km to the west of Finike, you can see many splendid rock tombs from the magnificent theatre. In the fourth Century St. Nicholas was the bishop of this town. The Saint’s skeleton was stolen by traders in the Middle Ages land has since been venerated as a relic in Bari ( Italy). Every year in December the St. Nicholas Day festivities draw many tourists, who spend their Christmas holidays on the sunny coast of the former Lycia. Today there is a monument to St. Nicholas in Myra, Antalya. ASPENDOS Aspendos is known for his best-preserved theater of antiquity with seating for 15.000. Still used today, the theater's galleries, stage decorations and acoustics all testify to the architects success. Nearby stand the remains of a basilica, agora and one of the largest aqueducts in Anatolia. This city on the shores of the ancient Eurymedon,built by the colonial people from Argos,is renown over the world because of its Roman amphitheater of incrediple beauty,that is still in excellent shape .Aspendus was the only city,besides Side,that minted silver coins in 5th C.AD.The city walls were built in the Hellenistic period and were repaired restored in the late Roman period and in the Byzantine period.Aspendos is divided into two:Lower City and (Upper)High City.The Agora,Basilica,Bouleterion and the monumental fountain situated in the High City and the Theater,Stadium,the Roman Baths and the Water aqueducts situated in the Lower City are definitely worth seeing.The Aspendos Theater holds 15,000 people and was built by the famous Aspendosian architect Zenon,in Marcus Aurelius’time(secondhalfof2AD). This theater is in better condition than all other theaters built in the ancient times .In order to keep with Hellenistic traditions,a small part of the theater was built so that it leaned against the hill where the Citadel (Acropolis)stood,while almost all of the other parts were buit onvaulted arches . The high stage served to seemingly isolate the audience from the rest of the world.The very top section of this stage has been repaired and the acoustics were ameliorated with later additons .Because the stage area was later used as a caravansarai in Seljuk times,it was continuously repaired and maintained .Thus,the Aspendos Theater has been able to survive to this days without losing almost any of its original qualities. SIDE Side was the most important harbour in former Pamphylia. The town extended over a peninsula measuring 1 Km in length and 400 m in width. There was a large dockyard and in the Second and Third Centuries BC, it was a dangerous meeting points for pirates, as well as an important slave market. The slave market in Side was visited by merchants from throughout Asia Minor. The important town buildings were built during this period. The ruins lie on top of a rocky spit of land. Unlike Aspendos and Perge, the Ancient Greeks did not settle on the sheer castle rock, which lay upstream on the fertile plain, but on a barren rocky cape bordering the sea. In spite of this, the settlement was not just a trading station. The rocky cape appears to have been populated by 1,000 BC. In the Seventh Century BC, the Aeolians from Kyme ( 45 km to the east of Izmir) were established here. At that time, the small bay on the western edge of the peninsula was turned into a harbour. The Aeolians mixed so well with the local population that they developed a dialect based on Ancient Greek and the language of the locals. BURSA Bursa lies at the foot of the 2550 m high Mount Uludag. The town has 750,000 inhabitants. To the east can be found the old quarters and to the west the new settlements. Despite of the modern streets and buildings, this is a typically Anatolyan city with numerous tiled roofs, mosques and monuments. Since there are a lot of green areas in this city, it is known to the locals as the "Green City". Tourist flock to Bursa because of its medicinal sulphur and iron rich springs, well-loved by the locals as well as tourists. Silk-worm farming was introduced by the emperor Justinian. In former times, Bursa silk was famous. Today, THA city earns its living mainly form THA cotton and automotive industries. VAN GOLU Lake Van is a soda lake of tectonic origin and the largest lake in Turkey. It was formed during an eruption of the Volcano Nemrut when debris blocked the former outlet towards the Mus Plain. the lake has no outlet and is fed by several streams including the Karasu, Güzelsu, Bendimahi, Zilan and Yeniköprü Streams. It drains an area of 15,254 square km.Because the annual inflow is higher than evaporation, the lake level is continously rising. Several peninsulas have become islands during the 19th and 20th centuries and some settlements were forced to move inland. The increase in water level has been more or less continous since 1900, however since 1986 the rate has accelerated:2.16 m. during 1986-1995. The lake is surrounded by high mountains among them the Suphan mountain (4058m.) to the north. Flat areas with extensive meadows and arable land are found between the lake and the mountains. Most of the arable land is non irrigated and under cereal production. Only in the north-east, near Ercis and Muradiye, and in the north-west near Ahlat is a total of 19,000 ha of land irrigated with water from streams. There are four islands in the lake (all previously connected to the mainland): Ahtamar, Kusadasi, Çarpanak and Adir (Yaka). UZUN GOL Two very popular sites of eastern black sea region .frequently visited for its natural beauty as well as its one and only lake uzungöl at 1150 mt and anzer plateau famous for its honey remedy for all illnesses Uzungöl- anzer trans –action will grant you the opportunity to tinguish the beauty of the region,to meet with local people and taste the regional appatite.so tahat you will be willing to experience them all, with a 7 days memory full of beauties in your mind while you are resting at your home. ANKARA Ankara is about as European as Turkey gets. There are touches of the mystical east if you know where to look but the vast majority of the city is 20th century through and through. Ankara is a huge university town and you'll find the streets of Kizilay and the bars of Sakarya thronged with students for most of the year. Capital city status and the presence of language schools and the above mentioned universities has brought a sizeable ex pat community to Ankara and all this adds to the western feel of the place. All the wings of the military are based here and Saturday afternoon finds Genclik Park (fountains, funfair, boat rides) full of strolling conscripts in their various uniforms. A lot of foreigners are here on business but tourism is beginning to have an impact on various aspects of the city. Ankara is a reasonably convenient place to base yourself if you want to travel Anatolia, Cappadocia or the Black Sea coast and a growing number of tour operators and related service industries are catering to tourists. There is accommodation here at all levels, with prices pegged below those of Istanbul or the south coast, and the new bus station (ASTI) is probably the most useful transport hub in Turkey with services to just about anywhere that's feasible (The Lebanon is only 16 hours away if you're feeling adventurous). MARDIN The province of Mardin, overlooking the Mesopotamian Plain, has preserved the old- style carving in its houses. Dating from 1385, the Sultan Isa Medresse is an interesting, beautiful Turkish monument with its magnificent carved portal. The Kasim Pasa Medresse, is also significant for its dome of beautiful stonework and the Ulu Mosque with its well-decorated minaret, is another sightseeing spot. On a hill, 7 kms east of Mardin, you will see something you do not expect: Deynulzaferan, a Syriac- Jacobite monastery. Several kilometres further, there is another Monastery, Deyrelmur dating from the 5th- century. If you would like to see the best examples of Artutid architecture then you have to head for Kiziltepe, 21 kms south of Mardin, 13th- century Ulu Mosque with its fine mihrap relief and beautifully decorated portal. At Hasankeyf which is on the borderline with Batman province, you will see the ruins of the ancient 12th- century capital of the Artutids. The bridge which once connected the two parts of the city over the Tigris and the palace, are others. The 15th- century Zeynel Bey Mausoleum nearby, is attractively decorated with blue tiles. MEVLANA - KONYA Who is this Mevlana Mohammed Jelaled-din Rumi , that over 700 years after his death his words and thoughts are causing such a stir ? First , here is one way in which he described himself : My Mother is Love My Father is Love My Prophet is Love My God is Love I am a child of Love I have come only to speak of Love . Mevlana was born in the city of Belh of the Horasan country which falls within the boundaries of current Afghanistan, on September 30, 1207. Mevlana's father was Bahaeddin Veled, the son of Hüseyin Hatibi, who, besides being one of the notables of city, was also known in his life time as the"Sultan of the Scholars". His mother was Mümine Hatun, the daughter of Rükneddin, who was the Emir of Behl. Sultanü'l - Ulema Bahaeddin Veled, because of certain political incidents and the approaching Mongolian invasion could no longer stay in the city. Thus, in the year 1212 or 1213 Sultanü'l - Ulema left Behl with the members of his family and close friends. His first stop was Nişabur where he met the well known Sufi Feridüddin Attar. There, despite his young age Mevlana was noticed by Feridüddin Attar who showed his appreciation and approval of the young man. Sultanü'l - Ulema moved from Nişabur to Baghdat and later took off for Kaaba through Küfe. On his way back from the priglimage he stopped at Damascus and from Damascus he reached Larende (Karaman) passing through Malatya, Erzincan, Sivas, Kayseri and Niğde. They settled in the theological school (medrese) built by Subaşı Emir Musa. Sultanü'l - Ulema and his family who arrived at Karaman in 1222, stayed there for 7 years. There, Mevlana married Gevher Hatun who was the daughter of Şerefeddin Lala. The marriage gave Mevlana two sons named Sultan Veled and Alaeddin Çelebi. Years later, with Gevher Hatun dead, Mevlana married for a second time with Kerra Hatun, who was a widow with a child. Second marriage also gave him two sons, Muzaferreddin and Emir Alim Çelebi, and a daughter called Melike Hatun. During those years the greater part of Anatolia was under the reign of the Seljuk State and Konya was the capital. Hence Konya was bestowed with works of art and artists, and scholars were abundant in the city. In short, Seljuk State headed by Alaeddin Keykubad, was enjoying its most spectacular days. Alaeddin Keykubad invited Sultanü'l - Ulema Bahaeddin Veled from Karaman and asked him to settle in Konya. Bahaeddin Veled accepted the invitation of the Sultan and arrived in Konya on May 3, 1228 with his family and friends. Sultan Alaeddin met them with great ceremony and allocated the Altunapa (İplikçi) Medrese (theological school) to their use. Sultanü'l - Ulema died in Konya on January 12, 1231. The rose garden of the Seljuk palace was chosen for his grave and he was burried at the same spot the grave stands today at the Mevlevi lodge which is now used as a museum. When Sultanü'l - Ulema passed away, his students and followers gathered around Mevlana, regarding him as the sole heir of his father. In fact Mevlana had become a great scientific and religous scholar and was sermoning at the İplikçi Medrese. His sermons were drawing large crowds. Mevlana met Şems-i Tebrizi on November 15, 1244. Mevlana found in his character "the existance of absolute maturity" and saw in his face "the sipirutal lights of God". However their companionship did not las long as Şems suddenly died. After this death, Mevlana went into long years of seclusion. In later years, Selahaddin Zerkubi and Hüsameddin Çelebi tried to compansate the loss of Şems-i Tebrizi Mevlana, who summarized his life with the words, "I was raw, cooked and then burned" died on Sunday, December 17,1273. He had willed his burial prayes to be led by Sadrettin Konevi. However, Sadrettin Konevi was completely shattered with the death of Mevlana whom he loved greatly, and fainted at the ceremony. The prayer was then led by Kadı Sıraceddin. Mevlana believed the day of death to be a day of rebirth. Death would take him to his beloved; that is, the God. With this believe he was referring to the day of death as "Şeb-i Arus" which means wedding day or the bridal night and willed his friends not to cry and wail after him. "When we are dead, do not turn your eyes to the ground, seeking my grave! My grave will be in the hearts of the wise" Hz. Mevlana.