GENERAL INFORMATION

Turkey is a paradise of sun, sea, mountains, and lakes that offers the vacationers a complete change from the stress and routine of everyday life. From April to October, most places in Turkey have an ideal climate that is perfect for relaxing on sandy beaches or enjoying the tranquility of mountains and lakes.

Turkey also has a magnificent past, and is a land full of historic treasures from 13 successive civilizations spanning 10,000 years. Even if you spend only a short time in Turkey, you can see a lot of this great heritage. There is no doubt that one visit will not be enough, and you will want to come back again and again as you discover one extraordinary place after another. All of them, no matter how different,have one thing in common: the friendly and hospitable people of this unique country.

Turkey in Brief

	Official Name	The Republic of Turkiye (Türkiye Cumhuriyeti)
	Founder	Mustafa Kemal ATATURK ( 1881-1938 )
	Capital	ANKARA
	Population	65.3 million (as of 2000)
	Literacy rate	1990 % 80.46 1935 % 19.25
	Language	Turkish (uses Latin Alphabet)
	Currency	New Turkish Lira ( YTL )
	Location	Eastern Mediterranean. Located on two contitents Europe and Asia. The European part of Turkey is called Thrace, while the Asian part is called Anatolia or ( Asia Minor )
	Religion	Secular State (99 % of the population is Muslim)
	Coastline	8333 Km. (5000 miles)

Turkey is a democratic, secular and social state governed by the rule of law; committed to the nationalism of Ataturk and based on the principle of the separation of powers; Legislative Power (The Turkish Grand National Assembly), Executive Power (President and the Council of Ministers) and Judicial Power (Independent courts and supreme judiciary organs) Geographically, it is surrounded by sea on three sides, by the Black Sea in the north, the Mediterranean in the south and the Aegean Sea in the west. In the northwest there is also an important internal sea, the Sea of Marmara, between the straits of the Dardanelles and the Bosphorus. Turkey has 80 administrative provinces and seven geographical regions. The first four of the seven regions are given the names of the seas which are adjacent to them, which are Black Sea Region, Marmara Region, Aegean Region, Mediterranean Region. The other three regions are named in accordance with their location in the whole of Anatolia as Central Anatolia Region, Eastern Anatolia Region, and Southeastern Anatolia Region. Although Turkey is full of historical and touristic sites, the most well-known and famous landmarks are Ayasofya

Museum, Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque, Dolmabahçe Palace, ancient City of Troy, Ephesus, Aphrodisias, Pergamon, Pamukkale, Göreme, Cappadocia, Mt.Nemrut, Safranbolu. Along with the tourism Turkey is a developed agricultural and industirious country. As of 1998, Turkey is the world's largest producer of hard-shell nuts, fig and apricot, the fourth STET in fresh vegetables, grape and tobacco production and seventh in wheat and cotton production.

Turkish delight and helva are famous throughout the world. Moreover, Turkey is among the leading countries worldwide in textiles and ready-to-wear clothing production. The exports of this sector constitutes 36 percent of total industrial exports. The leather processing industry is also very developed in Turkey, both in terms of technological level and high production capacity. It places second to textiles in terms of export figures. Local time is equal to GMT + 2 and the same time zone is applicibale all over the country ( seven hours ahead of U.S. eastern standard time ). One important reminder is that the electricity in Turkey is 220 volts a.c. and throughout Turkey weights and measures are in metric and kilo system.

Black Sea Coast: Warm summers, mild winters, and relatively high rainfall.
Central Anatolia: Steppe climate with hot, dry summers; cold winters.
Eastern Anatolia: Long snowy cold winters with mild summers.
Southeast Anatolia: Hot summer with mild, rainy winters.

What to Wear
a) Marmara, Aegean, and Mediterranean coasts: Light, cotton summer clothing and cardigans for evening.
b) Black Sea, Central and Eastern Anatolia: Summer wear, warmer clothing should be taken for cool evenings at high altitudes.
c) Comfortable shoes are necessary for visiting archeological and historical sites.
d) Sun hats and sunglasses are advisable in the summer.

History of Turkey
Throughout history the Turks have established numerous states in different geographical areas on the continents of Asia, Europe and Africa. Therefore, they encountered different cultures, they influenced these cultures and were influenced by them. The most significant of these states are Asian Hun State, Gokturk State, Uyigur State, The Kyrgyz Turks, The Western Huns, The Avar Empire, Sabir State, Karahanid State, Ghaznavid State, Seljuk State, and Ottoman Empire. Turkish Republic based its foundations to the heritage of Turkish States and Anatolian Cultures such as Hatti-Hittite Princedoms, Hittite Empire, The Urartu Kingdom, Lydian, Carian, Lycian and Ionian Civilizations, Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire. The Republic of Turkey is established by Mustafa Kemal ATATURK and his comrades after the invasion of Ottoman Empire by European countries and the Turkish War of Liberation.
The Government of the Turkish Grand National Assembly saved the country from being partitioned and occupied with the National War of Independence. A few months following the signing of the Lausanne Treaty, in which the Allied powers and the world recognized the independence and sovereignty of Turkey, the Republican People's Party was established on 9 September 1923 and Mustafa Kemal was elected as its chairman.

The administrative staff of the party was composed of the military staff who directed the national struggle and high-level bureaucrats. The party led by the leader and the hero of the Turkish War of Independence stood for modernizing and westernizing reforms in the political, judicial and educational fields. These developments, however, disturbed the conservative elements in the National

Assembly. The discussions flared up on such issues as what would happen now that the sultanate was abolished and how the parliament would now act, with which authorities and on whose behalf. The institutions and the office of the Caliphate, meanwhile stood in stark contradiction to the new administration. All these developments made a radical transformation compulsory. Thus, the Republic was proclaimed on 29 October 1923 in order to give the state a democratic form in the contemporary sense. Mustafa Kemal, the successful and great charismatic leader of the national struggle for independence, was elected unanimously as the first President of the Republic of Turkey. He appointed Ismet Inönü as the first Prime Minister. Thus, the discussions and doubts about the Presidency were ended. Four months later, the Caliphate, which was incompatible with the principle of republicanism, was abolished and the members of the Ottoman Dynasty were expatriated on 3 March 1924. Folowing that came a series of revolutions including the acceptance of the principle of secularity, replacement of the Ministry of Shariah and Foundations by the Chairmanship of Religious Affairs, prohibition of wearing of the turban and fez and the promulgation of the Hat Law on 25 November 1925, the adaptation of The international hour and calendar systems, the abolishment of dervish lodges

and tombs and the titles of tariqahs (sects) on 25 November 1925, acceptance of Turkish Civil Code on 17 February 1926, revision of Code of Obligations, the Criminal Code and the Commercial Code, and prohibition of polygamy and promulgation of the act giving women rights to vote and to be elected in the municipal elections in 1930, in elections held for village councils in 1933 and for Turkish Grand National Assembly in 1934. To further these reforms a new alphabet of Latin letters was prepared and an education reform was started to increase the literacy rate. The Surname Law was adopted on 21 June 1934 to modernize the state records and population censuses.

Finally, following the II. world war the transition to the Multiparty Period was realized and the liberation in economy and the modernation of the country started.