Overview about Turkey
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Capital: Ankara
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Official Language: Turkish
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Official Currency: Turkish Lira "TRY"
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Area: 783,562km2
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Population: 83,614,362 (based on report from TÜİK 2020)
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Borders: Georgia, Armenia, Iran, Nakhchivan, Bulgaria, Greece, Syria, lraq
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Seas: Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Aegan Sea, Marmara Sea
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Establishment: 29 October 1923
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President: Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
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First President: Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
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Calling Code: +90
Geography
The Republic of Turkey is a transcontinental Eurasian country in the Middle East. It has a very important strategic location as it connects Asia and Europe. The major part of it is located in the Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, while the smaller part is located in the Balkan Peninsula in Southeastern Europe. Turkey shares borders with Georgia to the northeast, Armenia, Nakhchivian (part of Azerbaijan) and Iran to the east, lraq to the southeast, Syria to the south, and Bulgaria and Greece to the northwest. It is also surrounded by 4 seas: the Black Sea to the north, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, the Aegean Sea to the west, and the Sea of Marmara, which separates the Asian and the European parts of the country. The Sea of Marmara is connected to the Black Sea through the Bosphorus Strait and to the Aegean Sea through the Dardanelles Strait.
Turkey is divided into 7 geographical regions:
• Aegean Region
• Black Sea Region
• Central Anatolia Region
• Eastern Anatolia Region
• Marmara Region
• Mediterranean Region
• Southeastern Anatolia Region
It is also divided administratively into 81 provinces (il), each divided into districts (ilçe) making a total of 973 districts. Istanbul is the largest in terms of population, followed by the Capital, Ankara, and Izmir. Each province is also divided into several provinces.
History
Turks have a great history dating back to few millennia BC. They had established 16 large empires throughout history, most of which were located in Central Asia. They, then, moved to Anatolia and settled there after the Manzikert War in 1071, leaded by Alp Arslan. Several states belonging to the Turks were established on these lands, including the Great Seljuk State, the Anatolian Seljuk State and the Ottoman Empire, whose rule continued until the end of World War I. After that, the modern Turkish Republic was established on October 29, 1923 by its first president, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
The 16 Turkic Empires
Economy
Turkey is classified as a newly industrialized country, according to the CIA world factbook. Its economy is primarily driven by the industrial and service sectors, in addition to a significant contribution of the traditional agriculture and construction sectors.
- Agriculture:
Major products: apricots, hazelnuts, wheat, sugar beets, milk, poultry, cotton, tomatoes and other fruits and vegetables. - Industry:
The automotive, electronics and petrochemical industries had come to the forefront and exceeded the contribution of textiles and clothing sectors in export. Other important industries include food processing and construction materials (cement, glass, ceramics, and iron and steel).
- Construction:
The construction and contracting sector includes a large number of businesses that work both in Turkey and abroad. Its services had expanded to reach many foreign markets like Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Yemen and Iran.
- Services:
The services sector has a huge contribution to the Turkish economy. It is divided into: Transport, Communication, Tourism, Finance and Healthcare.
Culture
One of the most significant aspects of Turkey is its cultural diversity. Turkey has a rich civilization that blends various cultures of the East and the West. The lands that currently form the Republic of Turkey merge between the classical European civilization brought by the Byzantine cultural heritage and the Islamic middle east civilization brought by the Ottoman Empire. The cultural identity of Turkey is evident in its stunning architecture, diverse cuisine, and its wealth in fine arts. The Turkish Republic had always invested a large amount of resources into architecture. Several locations had been classified as World Heritage Sites by the UNESCO. In addition, it had always given special attention to literature, cinema, and sports.
