Although Turkey has perhaps been better known in recent times for its idyllic beaches and testing golf courses, the world's scientific fraternity prefer to marvel at the geographic qualities awaiting visitors to the country's national parks. Of the 33 national parks in Turkey, 16 areas have been designated as natural parks or nature reserves, and there is a wide range of attractions to suit both the researcher and the casual tourist.
The Turkish ministry of culture and tourism has highlighted the "aesthetic, botanical and scientific value" possessed by many of the protected areas. Among the fascinating sights and landscapes are the Muntur Mountains in eastern Anatolia, with its glacier lakes and small waterfalls and forests home to bears, lynxs and eagles. For those more historically minded, there is also Bafa Lake in the Aegean region, which offers surrounding historical sites including the antique city of Heraclia. Kuscenneti National Park - translatedas 'Bird Paradise' - caters for the world's bird lovers with over three million in its territory. Turkey's widespread natural beauty is yet another pull factor for foreigners wishing to make an investment in the ever-expanding property market.Natural Attractions in Turkey
Turkey lies on the Anatolian peninsula, surrounded by seas on 3 sides and mountains on the other. In this setting, you can find an enormous variety of climate and natural effects. Among this variety, there are some gifts and amazing works of nature that you can't see anywhere else in the world. Browse through our list of natural wonders in Turkey to learn more.
A fertile region between the two volcanoes - Hasan Dagi and Erciyes Dagi, lies the region of Cappadocia. Known as Cappadocia in the ancient times, at present it is informally called the Kapadokya. The town lies to the east of Konya, and is surrounded by the Nigde in the south, Kirsehir in the north, Kayseri to the east and Aksaray to the west. 
There is a mention of Cappadocia as a large and important Roman province in the Bible's New Testament. However, this Central Anatolian region has been important since Hittite times, long before the time of Jesus.
Cappadocia is the cradle of one of the oldest civilizations of our world and the birthplace of many mysteries and legends, almost as if it is not real. Any travel lover would surely love to explore this fantastic place.
National parks
Nature preserves
The Geography of Turkey
Turkey is a large, roughly rectangular peninsula situated bridge-like between south-eastern Europe and Asia. Indeed, the country has functioned as a bridge for human movement throughout history. Turkey extends more than 1,600 kilometres from west to east but generally less than 800 kilometres from north to south. Total land area is about 779,452 square kilometres, of which 755,688 square kilometres are in Asia and 23,764 square kilometres in Europe.The European portion of Turkey, known as Thrace (Trakya), encompasses 3 percent of the total area but is home to more than 10 percent of the total population. Thrace is separated from the Asian portion of Turkey by the Bosporus Strait (Istanbul Bogazi or Karadeniz Bogazi), the Sea of Marmara (Marmara Denizi), and the Dardanelles Strait (Çanakkale Bogazi). The Asian part of the country is known by a variety of names--Asia Minor, Asiatic Turkey, the Anatolian Plateau, and Anatolia (Anadolu). The term Anatolia is most frequently used in specific reference to the large, semiarid central plateau, which is rimmed by hills and mountains that in many places limit access to the fertile, densely settled coastal regions. Astride the straits separating the two continents, Istanbul is the country's primary industrial, commercial, and intellectual centre. However, the Anatolian city of Ankara, which Atatürk and his associates picked as the capital of the new republic, is the political centre of the country and has emerged as an important industrial and cultural centre in its own right.
The Climate in Turkey
Turkey's diverse regions have different climates, with the weather system on the coasts contrasting with that prevailing in the interior. The Aegean and Mediterranean coasts have cool, rainy winters and hot, moderately dry summers. Annual precipitation in those areas varies from 580 to 1,300 millimetres, depending on location. Generally, rainfall is less to the east. The Black Sea coast receives the greatest amount of rainfall. The eastern part of that coast averages 1,400 millimetres annually and is the only region of Turkey that receives rainfall throughout the year. Mountains close to the coast prevent Mediterranean influences from extending inland, giving the interior of Turkey a continental climate with distinct seasons. The Anatolian Plateau is much more subject to extremes than are the coastal areas. Winters on the plateau are especially severe. Temperatures of -30°C to -40°C can occur in the mountainous areas in the east, and snow may lie on the ground 120 days of the year. In the west, winter temperatures average below 1°C. Summers are hot and dry, with temperatures above 30°C. Annual precipitation averages about 400 millimetres, with actual amounts determined by elevation. The driest regions are the Konya Ovasi and the Malatya Ovasi, where annual rainfall frequently is less than 300 millimetres. May is generally the wettest month and July and August the driest. The climate of the Anti-Taurus Mountain region of eastern Turkey can be inhospitable. Summers tend to be hot and extremely dry. Winters are bitterly cold with frequent, heavy snowfall. Villages can be isolated for several days during winter storms. Spring and autumn are generally mild, but during both seasons sudden hot and cold spells frequently occur.
Istanbul
Istanbul or the ancient city of Constantinople, spells splendor, magnificence and grandeur. Made famous by crusaders, this ancient city is at present Turkey's cultural heart and erstwhile capital.
Surrounded by the Marmara Sea and the Black Sea, this important port city is positioned on both Europe and Asia. The important body of water dividing Istanbul into two is the Bosphorus, which is also the only alternative to reach the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. This strategic position maintains Istanbul’s importance on the world map. There is much, which remains to be discovered in Istanbul and you cannot fully know it until you become a part of it, mingle with its crowds and get lost in its tortuous streets. Discover its history, its culture, its civilization and its treasures, and take home a horde of intoxicating memories to cherish. And maybe someday when you return you can relive them again.
Antalya
The Antalya region of Turkey could well be the most deserving choice for your summer vacation travel plans. Treat yourself with a vacation in the lands of unparalleled beauty, historical charm and cultural richness. Antalya offers you a typically Mediterranean flavor in its climate, landscape and over all atmosphere.
You can experience the best of both Mediterranean beauty and Turkish diversity in your vacation to Antalya. The place is justly called the Turkish Riviera due to its natural and archeological wealth. Antalya is a comprehensive tourist destination. With its versatile attractions it can surely be a memorable summer travel option. It is well connected to the rest of Turkey and can be reached by sea via ferryboat services. Antalya also has an international airport with flights to several major cities.
There is a mention of Cappadocia as a large and important Roman province in the Bible's New Testament. However, this Central Anatolian region has been important since Hittite times, long before the time of Jesus.
Cappadocia is the cradle of one of the oldest civilizations of our world and the birthplace of many mysteries and legends, almost as if it is not real. Any travel lover would surely love to explore this fantastic place.
National parks
The first national park in Turkey was established in 1958. Since then their numbers have increased to thirty-three. Some of these parks, which were initially established for archaeological and historical purposes are at the same time rich habitats where biological diversity is being protected. The Olympos - Bey Mountains National Park in the province of Antalya in the Mediterranean region, for example, contains a wealth of flora and fauna, which are either endemic or relic distributions, in addition to important archaeological ruins. The Köprülü Canyon National Park in the same province is the home of Cupressus sempervirens forests. Natural forests of this tree no longer occur elsewhere in the world. In addition to its archaeological and geological treasures, this park also contains a large number of endemic plants and rare animal species.
Although the majority of the national parks are found in forest lands, there are also a number which are established in areas where steppe-type vegetation predominates. Examples are Munzur Valley (eastern Anatolia), Baskomutan, Göreme, Bogazköy - Alacahöyük (all in Central Anatolia), and Nemrut Mountain (Eastern Anatolia - Adiyaman).
Among the national parks, the famed Kuscenneti National Park is characterized by a particularly significant ecological structure. The Kuscenneti National Park is one of the many prime quality wetlands in Turkey and is located in the southern zone of the Marmara region. This area was established as a national park in 1959, was awarded "European Diploma" in 1976 by the Council of Europe, and Diploma was renewed in 1981, 1985 and 1991.
Lately in 2004, with the addition of Ararat mountain in Agri and Allahüekber mountains in Kars, today there are 35 National Parks all around Turkey, and their total surface reaches 797,000 hectares.
Although the majority of the national parks are found in forest lands, there are also a number which are established in areas where steppe-type vegetation predominates. Examples are Munzur Valley (eastern Anatolia), Baskomutan, Göreme, Bogazköy - Alacahöyük (all in Central Anatolia), and Nemrut Mountain (Eastern Anatolia - Adiyaman).
Among the national parks, the famed Kuscenneti National Park is characterized by a particularly significant ecological structure. The Kuscenneti National Park is one of the many prime quality wetlands in Turkey and is located in the southern zone of the Marmara region. This area was established as a national park in 1959, was awarded "European Diploma" in 1976 by the Council of Europe, and Diploma was renewed in 1981, 1985 and 1991.
Lately in 2004, with the addition of Ararat mountain in Agri and Allahüekber mountains in Kars, today there are 35 National Parks all around Turkey, and their total surface reaches 797,000 hectares.
Nature preserves
Bio diversity in nature reserves"The growing consciousness that Turkey enjoys a special status from the point of view of biological diversity has led. between 1987 and 1991, to the designation of thirty-five areas as mature preserves. Their scale varies between 86 hectares (Haci Osman Forest - central Black Sea region) and 17 200 hectares (Sultan Marshes - Central Anatolian region), and their total area reaches 84,230 hectares.
Most of these nature preserves are smaller in area than national parks, which allows for their enclosure and leads to more effective protection.
All the nature preserves have been designated as such due to various biological characteristics. Some of these are listed in the table below, which indicates the reasons for their selection as areas to be protected.
Name Province Surface area Protected species (hectares) and/or habitat
Kasnak Mesesi Isparta 1300 Quercus vulcanica (endemic)
Sütcüler Sigla Isparta 88 Liquadambar orientalis Forest (endemic)
Sülüklü Lake Bolu 810 Lake and forest eco-system
Sultan Marshes Kayseri 17200 Birds, and wetlands eco-system
Kaz Dagi Balikesir 240 Abies equi-trojani (endemic)
Vakif Pine Kütahya 293 Pinus nigra,var. pyramidalis Forest
Akdogan Bolu 174 Pinus nigra, var. pyramidalis forest
Seyfe Lake Kirsehir 10700 Birds, and wetlands eco-system
Sirtlandag Mugla 784 Pinus halepensis
Kale-Bolu Bolu 460 Coryllus colurna (hazel nut) forest and some animal species of interest
Ciglikara Antalya 15889 Cedrus libani forest
Special Areas of Environmental Protection
By means of legislation adopted in 1990 Turkish governments have taken under protection twelve areas and have granted these the status of Special Areas of Environmental Protection. These areas have been selected not so much for their biological characteristics but in order to prevent tourism and construction from encroaching on their natural beauty. Among these Mugla - Köycegiz - Dalyan area has been brought under protection because it is the habitat where Caretta Caretta, which has recently become the focus of world public attention, lay their eggs. Foca, near Izmir, is another special protection area because of Monk seals. Pamukkale is under protection because of its world famous calcareous sediment; the Ihlara Valley, due to its historical significance as one of the earliest dwelling places of Christians and because of the presence of churches and temples containing painting and frescoes.
Other Protective Measures
In addition to the areas of environmental protection cited above, there are also enclosed zones of smaller scale which are under protection. These serve to protect some animal species which are either rare in Turkey or in the world, or face the danger of extinction. These animals are preserved and bred under special care and some are released into nature when their populations reach a certain level.
There are forty such areas of animal protection and they are located in all regions of Turkey. Below is a partial list of the animals which are under protection in these areas:
Fallow Deer , Roe Deer ,Northern Bald Ibis, Pheasant , Francolin , Partridge, Deer , Wild Goat , Water Fowl, Mediterranean Monk Seal, Wild Sheep (mouflon)
Other Measures for the Protection of Plan and Animal Genetic Resources
Turkey has started taking effective measures in order to protect certain endangered species among its rich diversity of flora and fauna. We can summarize these measures as follows;
1. A red data book was published in 1989 indicating the levels of endangerment faced by Turkish plants according to international IUCN classification. A similar study was conducted for species of birds.
2. Two gene banks have been established. One is located in Izmir, Menemen and is devoted especially to preserving the seeds and reproductive parts (diasporas) of cultivated plants in Turkey. Recently, they have also started collecting the seeds of non-agricultural wild plants for purposes of preservation.
A second gene bank, founded in Ankara in 1990, has as its purpose to collect and preserve the seeds of native plants which constitute the wild ancestors of cultivated plants. This bank started operations by securing the seeds of plant species in the Gramineae and Leguminosae families found in the valley which will be left under water upon completion of the GAP (South-eastern Anatolian) project. It is probable that a large number of field crops had originally evolved in this area.
3. In accordance with the Bern Convention, to which it is a signatory, Turkey has added approximately seventy plant species which are in need of protection, both at the level of seeds and habitats, to the convention list in 1990-91, and the necessary measures are now being taken for their protection.
4. In addition to the Bern Convention, Turkey is also a signatory to the Barcelona Convention concerning the pollution of the Mediterranean and the Paris Agreement on the protection of Birds.
5. According to the signatory to the RAMSAR Convention, work is being undertaken to protect wetlands both by the state and by voluntary environmental protection organizations and with the participation of concerned scientist. As a result of such work, operations which had been designed to drain the wetlands, and which in fact resulted in the total drying of some areas, have stopped. The conversion of wetlands into agricultural land has also been halted. Serious measures are now being taken in order to prevent the pollution and degeneration of such areas.
6. Turkey has applied for membership, in December 1991, to CITES. The purpose of this convention was to protect endangered animal and plant species which are subject to commercial trading, and to bring under control their export and import. Turkey has imposed restrictions on the removal from their natural habitat of certain bulb plants, plants with rhizome roots, and tubers (geophytes) which have been increasingly endangered since the 1970s. More importantly, efforts are being made to restrict their sales abroad. The decree published in 1989 and revised in 1991 allows for the supervision by the state and by scientists (mostly botanists and agricultural scientists) over the cultivation, harvesting, and exporting of these plants. The export of Galanthus elwesi, which is the most important of such plants under close control, has been reduced by stages during the last three years. While its exports had reached 40 million bulbs during the first half of the 1980s, this trade was restricted to 30 million in 1990, 20 million in 1991, and 15 million in 1992. Two projects have been initiated in 1991 and 1992, the first with the Netherlands, the second with Britain, which aim to cultivate G. elwesi and other species in fields. Restrictions have also been imposed on the export of Vipera kaznakowii, and of several species of predatory birds.
The Establishment of the Environment Ministry and its Purpose
The Ministry of Environment was established in 1991, as a consequence of the careful attention paid to environmental problems in Turkey. Work on such problems which have increasingly occupied the agenda of the world public opinion, was initially conducted within an under-secretariat, and a directorate, and was subsequently upgraded to the level of a ministry of the cabinet. The focus of the work of these environmental agencies was initially pollution, although in the last few years, conservation of nature and of living things has been accorded a greater status. The new ministry still operates via a central organization although work is under way to institute regional administrations. This will provide the ministry with more effective means of operation and a greater geographical extension.
Historical and cultural sites
Turkey's humanized landscape is inseparable from its culture. Nevertheless, to the outsider, Turkey gives a new meaning to wilderness, because even in the most inaccessible or isolated parts (such as the high mountain tops or the secret places in the valleys) the visitor remains with the feeling that sometime in history this place, now wild and untended, has been the home to civilizations with settled villages and city life for nine thousand years in Anatolia.
These were people of different origin, coming in waves and mingling with those already settled, each time creating a new synthesis. Between 2000 B.C. to 1500 A.D., this landscape was the center of world civilization. Interpretation of the world scene today is predicated upon our understanding of what took place on this landscape during the last four millennia, and which is now manifested in the ruins and monuments which adorn the landscape.
Up until the advent of modernity (which in Turkey is associated with the comprehensive highway program of the 1950's) the landscape had remained as it was through millennia. When you see a replica of one of the first agrarian villages in the world, dating back to almost 7,000 B.C., in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara, you cannot miss the similarity between this prototype and all those others that you become what we call the vernacular. When you have got something that works, why change it?
In Anatolia, the settlement pattern is more or less how it was during the time of the ancient civilizations. There is a good chance that the road you are traveling on is the same one on which great warriors of the East and the West trod and colorful caravans passed along, and couriers of mail or secret treaties galloped. Perhaps it is the same road traveled by St. Paul and his disciples or by Sufis spreading divine knowledge. Perhaps Alexander the Great or King Croesus fought against their enemies on the same spot you are traveling.
Graceful aqueducts built by the Romans made urban concentrations possible. Bridges built by Sinan and other Ottoman architects dot the countryside and are still used for the safe passage of goods and services. Caravanserais dating back to the Seljuk Empire of the 11th century offered sanctuary and relief to weary travelers. You can even stay in a caravanserai, for several have been restored into luxury hotels. Many Medresses are also in good conditions, mostly used as museums today.
In addition to the historic edifices proudly displayed at the main archaeological sites such as Assos, Troy, Pergamon, Ephesus, Miletus, Priene, Didyma, Aphrodisias, Heraclia, Myra, Olympus, Chimeira, Phaselis, Patara, Xantos, Pinara, Tlos, Letoon, Halicarnassus, Cnidus, Hattusas, Alacahöyük, Çatalhöyük, Yazilikaya, Nemrut, Zeugma, Psidian Antioch, Nicea, Sardis, Gordion, Caunos, Labranda, Perge, and Aspendos, many coastal villages and towns are blessed with their very own Anatolian ruins on the outskirts. This is usually an ancient theater commanding a spectacular view of the beach where, the villagers will tell you, Cleopatra often have swam. You don't have to look far for the agora either. It is probably where it has always been - right at the market place! Several villages are also privileged to have ''sunken cities" (Kekova) or ruins under the sea, which you can see if you look down into the crystal clear, turquoise waters.
The Anatolian hinterland will show you glimpses of other ancient civilizations: the Hattis, the Hurris, Assyrians, the Hittites, the Phrygians, the Urartians, the Lydians and the Lycians. From these civilizations come many familiar legends: women warriors known as Amazons, the wealth of the Lydian King Croesus, King Midas with the golden touch, and the Knot of Gordion that young Alexander was able to undo with the strike of his sword.
Then there are the lesser places, both sacred and ordinary, but with profound meaning: monasteries, tombs of local saints, heroes, artists or poets, mosques, churches, walls, fortresses, palaces, fountains, and cemeteries. The hillsides are covered with broken pieces of ancient pottery, contemporary walls often have corner stones which may date back to antiquity. Children play and sheep graze amidst fragile remains. Until very recently Fairy Chimneys in Cappadocia were used by villagers as cold storage for their food or wine cellars.
The very richness of the landscape poses grave challenges for historic preservation in Turkey. Good progress has been made in safeguarding the integrity of the most important sites, and work is ongoing to excavate, catalogue and preserve the country's tremendous legacy. Strict laws prevent the export of antiquities.
Most of these nature preserves are smaller in area than national parks, which allows for their enclosure and leads to more effective protection.
All the nature preserves have been designated as such due to various biological characteristics. Some of these are listed in the table below, which indicates the reasons for their selection as areas to be protected.
Name Province Surface area Protected species (hectares) and/or habitat
Kasnak Mesesi Isparta 1300 Quercus vulcanica (endemic)
Sütcüler Sigla Isparta 88 Liquadambar orientalis Forest (endemic)
Sülüklü Lake Bolu 810 Lake and forest eco-system
Sultan Marshes Kayseri 17200 Birds, and wetlands eco-system
Kaz Dagi Balikesir 240 Abies equi-trojani (endemic)
Vakif Pine Kütahya 293 Pinus nigra,var. pyramidalis Forest
Akdogan Bolu 174 Pinus nigra, var. pyramidalis forest
Seyfe Lake Kirsehir 10700 Birds, and wetlands eco-system
Sirtlandag Mugla 784 Pinus halepensis
Kale-Bolu Bolu 460 Coryllus colurna (hazel nut) forest and some animal species of interest
Ciglikara Antalya 15889 Cedrus libani forest
Special Areas of Environmental Protection
By means of legislation adopted in 1990 Turkish governments have taken under protection twelve areas and have granted these the status of Special Areas of Environmental Protection. These areas have been selected not so much for their biological characteristics but in order to prevent tourism and construction from encroaching on their natural beauty. Among these Mugla - Köycegiz - Dalyan area has been brought under protection because it is the habitat where Caretta Caretta, which has recently become the focus of world public attention, lay their eggs. Foca, near Izmir, is another special protection area because of Monk seals. Pamukkale is under protection because of its world famous calcareous sediment; the Ihlara Valley, due to its historical significance as one of the earliest dwelling places of Christians and because of the presence of churches and temples containing painting and frescoes.
Other Protective Measures
In addition to the areas of environmental protection cited above, there are also enclosed zones of smaller scale which are under protection. These serve to protect some animal species which are either rare in Turkey or in the world, or face the danger of extinction. These animals are preserved and bred under special care and some are released into nature when their populations reach a certain level.
There are forty such areas of animal protection and they are located in all regions of Turkey. Below is a partial list of the animals which are under protection in these areas:
Fallow Deer , Roe Deer ,Northern Bald Ibis, Pheasant , Francolin , Partridge, Deer , Wild Goat , Water Fowl, Mediterranean Monk Seal, Wild Sheep (mouflon)
Other Measures for the Protection of Plan and Animal Genetic Resources
Turkey has started taking effective measures in order to protect certain endangered species among its rich diversity of flora and fauna. We can summarize these measures as follows;
1. A red data book was published in 1989 indicating the levels of endangerment faced by Turkish plants according to international IUCN classification. A similar study was conducted for species of birds.
2. Two gene banks have been established. One is located in Izmir, Menemen and is devoted especially to preserving the seeds and reproductive parts (diasporas) of cultivated plants in Turkey. Recently, they have also started collecting the seeds of non-agricultural wild plants for purposes of preservation.
A second gene bank, founded in Ankara in 1990, has as its purpose to collect and preserve the seeds of native plants which constitute the wild ancestors of cultivated plants. This bank started operations by securing the seeds of plant species in the Gramineae and Leguminosae families found in the valley which will be left under water upon completion of the GAP (South-eastern Anatolian) project. It is probable that a large number of field crops had originally evolved in this area.
3. In accordance with the Bern Convention, to which it is a signatory, Turkey has added approximately seventy plant species which are in need of protection, both at the level of seeds and habitats, to the convention list in 1990-91, and the necessary measures are now being taken for their protection.
4. In addition to the Bern Convention, Turkey is also a signatory to the Barcelona Convention concerning the pollution of the Mediterranean and the Paris Agreement on the protection of Birds.
5. According to the signatory to the RAMSAR Convention, work is being undertaken to protect wetlands both by the state and by voluntary environmental protection organizations and with the participation of concerned scientist. As a result of such work, operations which had been designed to drain the wetlands, and which in fact resulted in the total drying of some areas, have stopped. The conversion of wetlands into agricultural land has also been halted. Serious measures are now being taken in order to prevent the pollution and degeneration of such areas.
6. Turkey has applied for membership, in December 1991, to CITES. The purpose of this convention was to protect endangered animal and plant species which are subject to commercial trading, and to bring under control their export and import. Turkey has imposed restrictions on the removal from their natural habitat of certain bulb plants, plants with rhizome roots, and tubers (geophytes) which have been increasingly endangered since the 1970s. More importantly, efforts are being made to restrict their sales abroad. The decree published in 1989 and revised in 1991 allows for the supervision by the state and by scientists (mostly botanists and agricultural scientists) over the cultivation, harvesting, and exporting of these plants. The export of Galanthus elwesi, which is the most important of such plants under close control, has been reduced by stages during the last three years. While its exports had reached 40 million bulbs during the first half of the 1980s, this trade was restricted to 30 million in 1990, 20 million in 1991, and 15 million in 1992. Two projects have been initiated in 1991 and 1992, the first with the Netherlands, the second with Britain, which aim to cultivate G. elwesi and other species in fields. Restrictions have also been imposed on the export of Vipera kaznakowii, and of several species of predatory birds.
The Establishment of the Environment Ministry and its Purpose
The Ministry of Environment was established in 1991, as a consequence of the careful attention paid to environmental problems in Turkey. Work on such problems which have increasingly occupied the agenda of the world public opinion, was initially conducted within an under-secretariat, and a directorate, and was subsequently upgraded to the level of a ministry of the cabinet. The focus of the work of these environmental agencies was initially pollution, although in the last few years, conservation of nature and of living things has been accorded a greater status. The new ministry still operates via a central organization although work is under way to institute regional administrations. This will provide the ministry with more effective means of operation and a greater geographical extension.
Historical and cultural sites
Turkey's humanized landscape is inseparable from its culture. Nevertheless, to the outsider, Turkey gives a new meaning to wilderness, because even in the most inaccessible or isolated parts (such as the high mountain tops or the secret places in the valleys) the visitor remains with the feeling that sometime in history this place, now wild and untended, has been the home to civilizations with settled villages and city life for nine thousand years in Anatolia.
These were people of different origin, coming in waves and mingling with those already settled, each time creating a new synthesis. Between 2000 B.C. to 1500 A.D., this landscape was the center of world civilization. Interpretation of the world scene today is predicated upon our understanding of what took place on this landscape during the last four millennia, and which is now manifested in the ruins and monuments which adorn the landscape.
Up until the advent of modernity (which in Turkey is associated with the comprehensive highway program of the 1950's) the landscape had remained as it was through millennia. When you see a replica of one of the first agrarian villages in the world, dating back to almost 7,000 B.C., in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara, you cannot miss the similarity between this prototype and all those others that you become what we call the vernacular. When you have got something that works, why change it?
In Anatolia, the settlement pattern is more or less how it was during the time of the ancient civilizations. There is a good chance that the road you are traveling on is the same one on which great warriors of the East and the West trod and colorful caravans passed along, and couriers of mail or secret treaties galloped. Perhaps it is the same road traveled by St. Paul and his disciples or by Sufis spreading divine knowledge. Perhaps Alexander the Great or King Croesus fought against their enemies on the same spot you are traveling.
Graceful aqueducts built by the Romans made urban concentrations possible. Bridges built by Sinan and other Ottoman architects dot the countryside and are still used for the safe passage of goods and services. Caravanserais dating back to the Seljuk Empire of the 11th century offered sanctuary and relief to weary travelers. You can even stay in a caravanserai, for several have been restored into luxury hotels. Many Medresses are also in good conditions, mostly used as museums today.
In addition to the historic edifices proudly displayed at the main archaeological sites such as Assos, Troy, Pergamon, Ephesus, Miletus, Priene, Didyma, Aphrodisias, Heraclia, Myra, Olympus, Chimeira, Phaselis, Patara, Xantos, Pinara, Tlos, Letoon, Halicarnassus, Cnidus, Hattusas, Alacahöyük, Çatalhöyük, Yazilikaya, Nemrut, Zeugma, Psidian Antioch, Nicea, Sardis, Gordion, Caunos, Labranda, Perge, and Aspendos, many coastal villages and towns are blessed with their very own Anatolian ruins on the outskirts. This is usually an ancient theater commanding a spectacular view of the beach where, the villagers will tell you, Cleopatra often have swam. You don't have to look far for the agora either. It is probably where it has always been - right at the market place! Several villages are also privileged to have ''sunken cities" (Kekova) or ruins under the sea, which you can see if you look down into the crystal clear, turquoise waters.
The Anatolian hinterland will show you glimpses of other ancient civilizations: the Hattis, the Hurris, Assyrians, the Hittites, the Phrygians, the Urartians, the Lydians and the Lycians. From these civilizations come many familiar legends: women warriors known as Amazons, the wealth of the Lydian King Croesus, King Midas with the golden touch, and the Knot of Gordion that young Alexander was able to undo with the strike of his sword.
Then there are the lesser places, both sacred and ordinary, but with profound meaning: monasteries, tombs of local saints, heroes, artists or poets, mosques, churches, walls, fortresses, palaces, fountains, and cemeteries. The hillsides are covered with broken pieces of ancient pottery, contemporary walls often have corner stones which may date back to antiquity. Children play and sheep graze amidst fragile remains. Until very recently Fairy Chimneys in Cappadocia were used by villagers as cold storage for their food or wine cellars.
The very richness of the landscape poses grave challenges for historic preservation in Turkey. Good progress has been made in safeguarding the integrity of the most important sites, and work is ongoing to excavate, catalogue and preserve the country's tremendous legacy. Strict laws prevent the export of antiquities.
The Geography of Turkey
Turkey is a large, roughly rectangular peninsula situated bridge-like between south-eastern Europe and Asia. Indeed, the country has functioned as a bridge for human movement throughout history. Turkey extends more than 1,600 kilometres from west to east but generally less than 800 kilometres from north to south. Total land area is about 779,452 square kilometres, of which 755,688 square kilometres are in Asia and 23,764 square kilometres in Europe.The European portion of Turkey, known as Thrace (Trakya), encompasses 3 percent of the total area but is home to more than 10 percent of the total population. Thrace is separated from the Asian portion of Turkey by the Bosporus Strait (Istanbul Bogazi or Karadeniz Bogazi), the Sea of Marmara (Marmara Denizi), and the Dardanelles Strait (Çanakkale Bogazi). The Asian part of the country is known by a variety of names--Asia Minor, Asiatic Turkey, the Anatolian Plateau, and Anatolia (Anadolu). The term Anatolia is most frequently used in specific reference to the large, semiarid central plateau, which is rimmed by hills and mountains that in many places limit access to the fertile, densely settled coastal regions. Astride the straits separating the two continents, Istanbul is the country's primary industrial, commercial, and intellectual centre. However, the Anatolian city of Ankara, which Atatürk and his associates picked as the capital of the new republic, is the political centre of the country and has emerged as an important industrial and cultural centre in its own right.
The Climate in Turkey
Turkey's diverse regions have different climates, with the weather system on the coasts contrasting with that prevailing in the interior. The Aegean and Mediterranean coasts have cool, rainy winters and hot, moderately dry summers. Annual precipitation in those areas varies from 580 to 1,300 millimetres, depending on location. Generally, rainfall is less to the east. The Black Sea coast receives the greatest amount of rainfall. The eastern part of that coast averages 1,400 millimetres annually and is the only region of Turkey that receives rainfall throughout the year. Mountains close to the coast prevent Mediterranean influences from extending inland, giving the interior of Turkey a continental climate with distinct seasons. The Anatolian Plateau is much more subject to extremes than are the coastal areas. Winters on the plateau are especially severe. Temperatures of -30°C to -40°C can occur in the mountainous areas in the east, and snow may lie on the ground 120 days of the year. In the west, winter temperatures average below 1°C. Summers are hot and dry, with temperatures above 30°C. Annual precipitation averages about 400 millimetres, with actual amounts determined by elevation. The driest regions are the Konya Ovasi and the Malatya Ovasi, where annual rainfall frequently is less than 300 millimetres. May is generally the wettest month and July and August the driest. The climate of the Anti-Taurus Mountain region of eastern Turkey can be inhospitable. Summers tend to be hot and extremely dry. Winters are bitterly cold with frequent, heavy snowfall. Villages can be isolated for several days during winter storms. Spring and autumn are generally mild, but during both seasons sudden hot and cold spells frequently occur.
Istanbul
Istanbul or the ancient city of Constantinople, spells splendor, magnificence and grandeur. Made famous by crusaders, this ancient city is at present Turkey's cultural heart and erstwhile capital.
Surrounded by the Marmara Sea and the Black Sea, this important port city is positioned on both Europe and Asia. The important body of water dividing Istanbul into two is the Bosphorus, which is also the only alternative to reach the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. This strategic position maintains Istanbul’s importance on the world map. There is much, which remains to be discovered in Istanbul and you cannot fully know it until you become a part of it, mingle with its crowds and get lost in its tortuous streets. Discover its history, its culture, its civilization and its treasures, and take home a horde of intoxicating memories to cherish. And maybe someday when you return you can relive them again.
Antalya
The Antalya region of Turkey could well be the most deserving choice for your summer vacation travel plans. Treat yourself with a vacation in the lands of unparalleled beauty, historical charm and cultural richness. Antalya offers you a typically Mediterranean flavor in its climate, landscape and over all atmosphere.
You can experience the best of both Mediterranean beauty and Turkish diversity in your vacation to Antalya. The place is justly called the Turkish Riviera due to its natural and archeological wealth. Antalya is a comprehensive tourist destination. With its versatile attractions it can surely be a memorable summer travel option. It is well connected to the rest of Turkey and can be reached by sea via ferryboat services. Antalya also has an international airport with flights to several major cities.
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