TURKEY. Geography. History. Political Structure

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1 TURKEY Capital : Ankara Official Language : Turkish Currency : TRY Time : GMT +2 Surface Area : km 2 Population : (2006-census) A country of sun and history, Turkey is located where the three continents making up the old world, Asia, Africa and Europe are closest to each other and straddle the point where Europe and Asia meet. Because of its geographical location, the mainland, Anatolia, has witnessed the mass migration of diverse people shaping the course of history. Geography Turkey is sq. km in area. The European and Asian regions are separated by the İstanbul Boğazı (Bosphorus), the Sea of Marmara, and the Çanakkale Boğazı (Dardanelles). Anatolia is a high plateau rising progressively towards the east, broken up by the valleys of about 15 rivers. Turkey enjoys a variety of ranging from the temperature climate of the Black Sea region, to the continental climate of the interior, then, to the Mediterranean climate of the Aegean and Mediterranean coastal regions. History Turkey has been called "the cradle of civilisation" and by travelling through this historic land. The world's first known settlement, a Neolithic city at Çatalhöyük, dates back to BC. From the days of Çatalhöyük up to the present, Turkey boasts a rich culture that through the centuries has made a lasting impression on modern civilisation. Hattis, Hittites, Phyrygains, Urartians, Lycians, Ionians, Lydians, Persians, Macedonians, Romans, Byzantines, Seljuks, and Ottomans have all made important contributions to the history of the area. Turkey also has a fascinating recent history. Upon the decline of the Ottoman Empire, a young man named Mustafa Kemal, who was a soldier and a great visionary, took the defeat of World War I and turned it into a shining victory by liberating Turkey on October 29, Through decades of change and growth, Turkey still boasts growing success, living by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk''s motto of "Peace at home, Peace in the World". Political Structure The republic of Turkey is based on a secular, democratic, pluralistic and parliamentary system. 1

2 Population On the general basis, the population in Turkey is characterised by youth and dynamism. Turkey has about 74 million inhabitants. Although there has been a marked migration into town, about 47 per cent of the population still lives in the rural areas. Turkey is a secular country. The most of the Turkish population is Muslim. However, everyone in Turkey has freedom of religion and beliefs. Language The Turkish language belongs to the Ural - Altaic group. Turkish is written in the Latin alphabet and is spoken by at least 150 million people around the world. Although the official language is Turkish, there are many high schools and universities where the curriculum is based on English, German and French are other commonly spoken foreign languages. Holidays in Turkey Official/National Holidays 1 January New Year s Day (Yılbaşı) 23 April National Sovereignty and Children s Day (Ulusal Egemenlik ve Çocuk Bayramı) -Anniversary of the establishment of the Turkish Parliament 19 May Commemoration of Atatürk and Youth & Sports Day (Atatürk ü Anma Gençlik ve Spor Bayramı) - The arrival of Atatürk in Samsun city, the beginning of the War of Independence 30 August Victory Day (Zafer Bayramı) - Victory over the allied forces in October Republic Day (Cumhuriyet Bayramı) - Anniversary of the declaration of the Turkish Republic Religious Holidays September Feast of the Ramadan (Şeker Bayramı) November Feast of the Sacrifice (Kurban Bayramı) The dates of these religious festivals change according to the Muslim lunar calendar an thus occur days earlier each year. According to this; Seker Bayrami will be celebrated between September 2009, between 9-11 September 2010, and between August-1 September Kurban Bayrami will be celebrated on November 2009, on November 2010, on 6-9 November 2011, and on October

3 AYDIN CITY Population : (city center),( total) Surface Area : km 2 Climate : Subtropical Altitude : 65 m Aydın has a good combination of historical and touristic aspects. It is just in the middle of ancient heritage of previous civilizations. And it has well known touristic summer resorts such as Kusadasi and Didim. It is also just one hour drive away from the famous ancient city and the center of Christianity, Ephesus and Virgin Mary House. History Aydın has been the center of various civilizations since the oldest ages of the history ever known, on which such cities as Afrodisias, Milet, Alinda, Didyma, Nisa, Prien, Magnesia, Ephesus of the ancient times were established. Aydın of today traces back to Hittites as of BC 2500 with the establishment of Tralles City built on the back of Top bed on the North. It has lived its most brilliant age in Lydia realm in the AD VII. century. These lands, where the thought has been active in shaping the human life as an unbreakable tie between life and philosophy, hosted Phrygia, Lydia, Persian, Roman and Byzantine ages in the same order, and Seljukians between , Menteseogullari between , Aydınogullari between , and the Ottomans between In the time of Aydınogullari, the name of the city was changed as Aydın Guzelhisari, and it was soon named as Aydın. Geography Aydın is settled on an area of sq km on Great Menderes Basin surrounded with mountains on the north and south, and with plains on middle and western regions. A large section of the lands of our province, central altitude of which reaches to 65 meters, and a coastal band length which reaches to 150 km., is composed of mountainous areas. Dilek Peninsula and the Great Menderes Delta located on the south of the peninsula are located within the borders of Kusadasi and Soke districts. "Bafa Lake" is located on the south-east of Great Menderes Delta and is the largest lake of the province. Climate Mediterranean climate prevails in Aydın. Summers are hot and dry, and winters are warm and rainy. The average temperature is 17.6 C, average number of rainy days is 80.6, and the average amount of rain is 3

4 677,5 mm/ year. Our province is between 37-44' and 38-08' northern latitudes and 27-23' and 28-52' southern longitudes. Population The total population of our province is With its geographical characteristics, climate structure, ground and water resources and natural beauties, Aydın is one of the most beautiful parts of our Country. The economy of the province is generally based on agriculture. Sectors processing agricultural products constitute the highest portion within the industry branches of Aydın. The province has the highest potential in mining sector, particularly for feldspar, quartz and geothermal resource, and has the richest reserves in terms of spring waters. Having a high tourism potential in terms of natural beauties and historical places, Aydın province is open to further development in this sector. Agriculture, Industry and Trade Our Province, established on a total area of sq km on the fertile plains irrigated by Great Menderes River, has a significant agricultural potential enabling the region available for cultivating all kinds of plants with its rich soil and water resources thanks to the Mediterranean Climate. Within the agriculture sector, vegetable production, stockbreeding, fishery are the leading sub-sectors. The pioneering products in vegetable production are cotton, fig, olive, chestnut and citrus fruits. Our province has engaged in a great step forwards in stockbreeding sector. Buharkent has become an important center for chicken farming, and the Cine district is a leading one in breeding. Aydın province hosts the richest geothermal field of Turkey discovered till today. Among our crucial mine resources are feldspar, quartz, marble, lignite, limestone and clay. 95 % of the feldspar mine produced in Turkey is extracted from the mountainous region between Cine and Milas. Our province is also rich in terms of quality spring waters. Culture and Tourism Aydın is among the leading provinces in tourism sector of our country with its cultural, historical and natural texture. The west side of the province, for it opens to Aegean Sea, is an important area for travel tourism, the leading districts being Didim and Kusadasi. Other provinces are appropriate for daily tourism with their archeological pieces and geographical structure housing high plateaus. Dilek Peninsula, Great Menderes Delta, National Park, Bafa Lake, Natural Park, Nature Protection Fields, Tourism Centers, and the Archaic Cities in Special Environmental Protection Regions are visited by thousands of tourists every year. Aydın province, with its districts, is an ideal place for tourism, with its most adequate climate, sunny days during the year reaching to 240, its small bays following one after another along side the coastal band with a length of 150 4

5 km, its beaches with Golden Sand, thermal resources, with its "Dilek Peninsula National Park". Transportation Whilst is has the facilities for railway, maritime and airway transportation thanks to its geographical location, the weight in Aydın's commercial load and passenger transportation is borne by highways. The nearest airport to Aydın is Izmir Adnan Menderes (ADB) Airport. It is about 100 km to Aydın city center. 5