Total area: 780,580 sq km (301,382 sq mi)
Population (2009 est.): 76,805,524
Capital (2003 est.): Ankara - 3,582,000 (metro. area)
Largest cities: Istanbul - 9,760,000 (metro. area); Izmir - 2,398,200; Bursa - 1,288,900; Adana - 1,219,900; Gaziantep - 979,500
Currency: Turkish lira
Languages: Turkish (official), Kurdish, Dimli, Azeri, Kabardian
Religions: Islam (mostly Sunni) 99.8%, other 0.2% (mostly Christians and Jews)
Time zone: GMT+2; DST: GMT+3 (from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October)
Electricity: AC 230V/50Hz; European plugs with two round pins are the standard
Turkey is a Eurasian country situated on the south of the Black Sea and at the northeast end of the Mediterranean Sea. Turkey lies on two continents, stretching across the Anatolian peninsula in Western Asia and Thrace (Rumelia) in the Balkan region of southeastern Europe. In Europe, the country borders the Aegean Sea to the west and Greece and Bulgaria to the northwest. In Asia, Turkey borders Georgia and Armenia to the northeast, Iran to the east, Iraq to the southeast, the Syrian Arab Republic and the Mediterranean Sea to the south. The Dardanelles, the Sea of Marmara, and the Bosporus divide the country into its European and Asian parts; the Asian part accounts for 97% of the country's area.
Turkey is a unique country that combines European influences and aspirations with Asian culture and traditions. Turkey's rich history is the source of country's incredible variety of landmarks and historic sites, originating from ancient Greek, Roman, Byzantine or Ottoman times.
