homemaking friendsworld infoglobal etiquette
Offical name
Republic of Turkey
Capital
Ankara
Government type
republican parliamentary democracy
Language
Turkish
Area
780,580 sq km
Population
70,413,958 (2006 est.)
Currency
Turkish lira (YTL)
Religion
Muslim
Time zone
GMT/UTC +2 ()
Country dialing code
90
Click to see larger map
Located between the European and Asian Continent, Turkey has been playing the role of a bridge connecting the cultures of the East and the West, and for playing such role, Turkey is also known as the ‘Bridge connecting the East and West,’ or the ‘Crossroad of the World’s Civilizations.’ Historically, Turkey went through the eras of the Roman Empire and the Ottoman-Turk Empire. As a result, it became a country where the cultures of Christianity and Islam exist together. Although 96% of the population is currently Muslims, Turkey still has countless Christian remains which make the country, along with Israel, the Holy Land for Christians around the world. The most famous cultural heritage which has the marks of both religions is the Hagia Sofia Cathedral located in Istanbul, the largest city of Turkey. Currently named as the Aya Sofia Museum, this building was originally constructed as a Christian church during the Roman Empire. However, during the 15th century, the building was turned into an Islamic mosque. Interestingly, Istanbul was the Capital of three empires, including the Ancient Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire and the Ottoman-Turk Empire. In 1985, the city itself was selected as UNESCO’s World Heritage. Meanwhile, Turkey is geographically bounded by four seas including the Mediterranean Sea, the Aegean Sea, the Marmara Sea, and the Black Sea. Shorelines of these four seas take up three forth of the country’s border.
banner    banner    banner    banner