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About Turkey - County Profile

A treasure of history, a melting pot of civilizations and cultures.
The variety and beauty of its landscape and climate attracts tourists to its beaches, mountains, plains and valleys.
A dynamic nation of 72 million people with average age of 28

Committed to democracy and pluralism

A multi-party parliamentary democracy since 1946.
A secular democracy among more than 50 republics with predominantly Moslem population.
A free market economy
Free and privately-owned media, with 16 nation-wide private TV Networks, broadcasting through two Turkish communication satellites.
A member of NATO since 1952, Turkey is a part of the EU Customs Union since 1996, a candidate country to the EU since 1999 that started accession negotiations in October 2005.
Strategically placed
A physical and culturel bridge between Europe and Asia, in the heart of Eurasia, bordering 12 nations and four seas.
An outlet for the Black Sea basin countries to warm seas through the Turkish Straits.
A significant contributor to the development of the newly independent states of Central Asia and the Caucasus.
A prospective energy terminal of export of Caspian oil and natural gas.

* The world's earliest human settlement Çatalhöyük is in Turkey.

* The home of the world's earliest civilization Anatolia - Asia Minor, is in Turkey.
* Istanbul is the only city in the world that spans two continents, Europe and Asia.
* The fourth largest cathedral in the world St. Sophia Cathedral is in Istanbul.
* The rivers Tigris and Euphrates are born and cover the upper Mesopotamia region in Turkey.
* Two of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World are in Turkey.
* The stone monuments on Mt. Nemrut (Named the Eighth Wonder by UNESCO) are in Turkey.
* The mythological city of Troy is in Turkey.
* The world's first beauty contest between Hera, Athena and Aphrodite was held on Mt. Ida near Troy.
* Noah's Ark is believed to rest on Mt. Ararat in Turkey.
* The father of history Heredotis was born in Turkey.
* The ancient philosopher and historian Homer was born in ancient Smyrna (Izmir) in Turkey.
* Famous philosophers, mathematicians, physicists such as Thales, Anaximender and Anaximenes were born in Turkey.
* The world's first coin was minted by the Lydians in the 6th century BC at Sardis in Turkey.
* The famous Royal Road started in Sardis.
* Gordions knot was untied by the young Alexander the Great in Turkey.
* Julius Caesar uttered his famous victory words "Veni, Vidi, Vici" in Amasia in the 1st century BC in Turkey.
* Patara the birthplace of Santa Claus is in Turkey.
* The mythical King Midas of the golden touch ruled in Turkey.
* Beautiful Cleopatra and Mark Anthony had their romantic tryst in Turkey.
* The largest library in the ancient world (2nd century BC) was at Pergamon in Turkey.
* Ephesus the most complete ancient city in the world is in Turkey.
* Virgin Mary and St. John the Evangelist spent the last years of their lives in Ephesus.
* St. Paul was born in Tarsus and first preached in Perge both of which are in Turkey.
* The world's first Christian church was established by St. Peter and St. Barnabas in Antioch (Antakya) in Turkey
* The mystic Mevlana and his order of twirling dervishes was born in Konya in Turkey
* Cappadocia one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World is in Turkey.