Area
Turkey has land area of 780,576 sq. kilometers, twice the size of California.
The coastline is 7,200 km long, extending from the Black Sea in the North to the Mediterranean Sea in the South. Set in the Eastern Mediterranean, Turkey share borders with Greece and Bulgaria in the West, Georgia and Armenia to the Northeast, Iran to the East and Iraq and Syria in the Southeast.

Population
An estimated 65 million people, with an annual growth rate of 2%.

Language
Turkish, an Altaic language, written in the Latin script since 1928.
Most well-educated Turks and especially those involved in the Tourism business speak excellent English and often French and German as well.

Government
Turkey has been a Republic since 1923. The form of government is a secular, Multiparty Democracy with a unicameral legislature, a President and a Prime Minister.

Religion
98% Muslim with practicing communities of Jews and Christians in the large cities.

Currency
The Turkish lira. The largest denomination at present is the TL 10.000.000 bill. With inflation upwards of 70 % annually, the value of the lira constantly changes against major world currencies. Changing money is very simple; exchange bureaus give the best rates.

Economy
Turkey has an industrialized economy with a large agricultural sector. Major sectors are automotive, iron and steel, household appliances and electronics, textiles and apparel, consumer goods, foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, cement, building materials, glass, ceramics and financial services. The economy is based on free-market principles, although the state sector is still quite large.

Public Holidays
Jan. 1st. New Year's Day, April 23rd. National Independence and Children's Day, August 30th. Victory Day, October 29th Republic Day.

Festivals
International Istanbul Music Festival: June 20th. - July 30th.

Hours
9 am - 6pm for most offices. Many bank branches close between 12 - 1:30 for lunch. Large stores and the Covered Bazaars are generally open from 10 am - 6:30 pm.
Small shops stay open till all hours, generally opening between 9 - 10 in the morning.
In the middle of summer in hot southern locations, some shops may close in mid afternoon for a short siesta and then stay open till 9 or 10 at night. Breakfast
( 7 - 10 am ) and lunch ( 12 - 2:30 pm ) at standard times. Dinner tends to be late, around 8 - 9 pm and even later during the summer months, although restaurants are generally open for service by 7 pm.

Turkey,a bridge between two continents-Europe and Asia,has various kinds af climate and geographical area within its borders.Siberian cold on snowy and rocky tips of the Anadolian montains, sparsely vegetated plains,green fields and fertile valleys with many rivers,are all together in this beatiful country, Turkey.

In Turkey,taking only a two-hour long trip is enough for everyone to live in different seasons.After swimming in Mediteranean Sea in the morning,you may finish the day by skiing on the mountains rising above you,in the Mediteranean Region.Besides,the richness of fauna and flora in Turkey,cultural inheritance from different civilizations,make Turkey unique and unforgettable.You will find yourself as a witness of this inheritance in a kind of time-travel through the steps of our program.
Passionate lovers of nature and people who engage in sports may only dream of such a rich variety in so many different fields.

Besides,the 8500 km.long beaches of Turkey,the mountain tips,changing between 2000 m and 500 m.in height,make a real heaven for alpinists,trekkers and skiers.Turkey is still mostly untouched with respect to nature sports.Turkey's natural treasure has yet to be discovered.In addition to these,Turkish hospitality will remain amaze and attract you. Bird watching one of the means of oneself to integrate with nature,started to gain popularity in Turkey.

Turkey has a superiority in 'Gürtour Travel',There is nearly 500 types of birds living in the European Continent.Turkey alone is the home of 460 bird species,being aware of this fact, European bird observes frequent of our country for this purpose. The current researches show that Turkey is located on two main'Bird Migration Routes'.Turkey has an other great importance a land embracing several species unique to Anatolia which are not seen in Europe at all .