Turkey is surrounded by the Aegean Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Black Sea. It has a population of 71 million, with Ankara as the capital and Istanbul as the largest city. Turkish is the official language, and the country has a high literacy rate. Turkey is a parliamentary republic with a Westernized society. It has a rich cultural history and is home to famous archaeological sites. Tourists come to Turkey for its nature and beaches.
The Republic of Turkey, more commonly known around the world as simply Turkey, is surrounded by water. The Aegean Sea, the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea all touch Turkey. Located partly in Europe and partly in Asia, Turkey shares international borders with eight different countries, most notably Greece and Syria.
Turkey has a total population of 71,158,647, four million of whom live in Ankara, the capital. Istanbul, Turkey’s best known city, is also the largest with over 10 million. Turkish, the official language, is spoken by 97 percent of the population, with small groups using Arabic and Kurdish for their daily communications. Turkey has a high literacy rate, averaging 90% of the population, despite differences between regions.
Turkey is a parliamentary republic, which means that the president is chosen by the parliament rather than directly by the citizens. The Prime Minister, together with the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, are directly responsible for all major political offices in the country. Despite being a nation divided between East and West, Turkey has always remained a Westernized society, with most of its foreign relations seeking to unite the country with Europe and the rest of the West.
Turkey was home to some of the world’s oldest civilizations, such as the Ottoman and Byzantine empires, which date back to 334 BC. This is evident today in the vast ruins that are left scattered across the country, which attract thousands of visitors every year. Troy, or Truva in Turkish, is one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world, along with the Celsus Library in Ephesus.
Not all historical treasures in Türkiye are purely decorative. The Blue Mosque or Sultan Ahmed Mosque, for example, is a historic building that still attracts as many visitors as the locals. Due to its age, Turkey has a rich cultural history that continues today, perfectly represented in the work of Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk, winner of the 2006 Nobel Prize in Literature. Turkish music and literature have, in recent years, transcended borders and become famous in Eastern Europe and Russia.
Tourists also come to Turkey for its amazing nature and pristine beaches. Hot, dry summers make Turkey an ideal destination for those escaping mainland winters, and the government has made the most of this by sponsoring local tourism and helping to develop a number of resort towns across the country.
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