GENERAL INFORMATION

GEOGRAPHY:
Turkey has a total area of 780,000 km, spread over 97% in Asia and 3% in Europe. Asiatic Turkey is formed by a central plateau region and the continent. The European part of Turkey is a fertile area. The Asian part of Turkey is inside a high plateau (1000 m), the southern mountains (Pontus) and the northern mountains (bulls) come together and form a plateau 1800 m high. The four seas around Turkey: Mediterranean Sea, Sea of Marmara, Black Sea and Aegean Sea.

FAUNA AND FLORA:
The fauna of Turkey is the best preserved in Europe and many national parks are wonderful. As for the vegetation types, they suit all climates and topographical regions.

ECONOMY:
It is an agricultural country where they grow olives, snuff, cotton, grapes, figs, fruit trees and various vegetables. In the industry, cotton and wool factories, cement, snuff, carpet workshops, fertilizer plants, pharmaceutical industry are very important. Turkey exports figs, snuff, raisins, cotton, hazelnuts, magnesium, chromium, mercury. Turkey imports machinery and spare parts, fuel and dyes.

THE CURRENCY:
The currency is Turkish Lira (TL). In the tourist areas can be paid in U.S. dollars and euros. In addition to the banks, there are exchange offices which are open between 9:00 to 12:00 / 13:00 to 17:00.

TURKISH CUISINE:
The lamb, skewers, doner kebab are very typical. There are many restaurants with international cuisine. The typical drink is Raki.

THE RELIGION:
It is a secular country; the 99% of the population is Muslim. Any religion can be freely practiced.

SHOPPING:
Turkey is a paradise for shopping. Among the typical things we can name: rugs, carpets, kilims, the gold and silver jewelry, meerschaum pipes, embroidery, leather goods.

THE CLIMATE:
In the vastness of the country, we can not speak of a single type of weather. In Istanbul and along the Sea of Marmara the climate is moderate (winter and summer 4C 27C), in winter the thermometer can drop to below zero. In Anatolia between day and night great differences are experienced. However there is little rain but it snows a lot. In eastern Anatolia the winter is long and hard and you can see snow all winter.