My Country: TURKEYMy Country: TURKEY

Founder:Founder: Mustafa Kemal ATATÜRK Mustafa Kemal ATATÜRKCapital City:Capital City: Ankara AnkaraPopulation:Population: 73,722,988 73,722,988

My Country: TURKEYMy Country: TURKEY

Turkey is Turkey is a a EurasianEurasian country  country located in located in Western Western AsiaAsia (mostly in  (mostly in the Anatolian peninsula) the Anatolian peninsula) and in East and in East Thrace in Thrace in Southeastern Southeastern EuropeEurope. .

My Country: TURKEYMy Country: TURKEY Turkey is Turkey is

a a democraticdemocratic, , secularsecular, , unitaryunitary, , constitutional constitutional republicrepublic with an ancient cultural heritage. with an ancient cultural heritage.

The vast majority of the population are The vast majority of the population are MuslimsMuslims..

Turkey has become increasingly integrated with Turkey has become increasingly integrated with the the WestWest through membership in organizations such  through membership in organizations such as the as the Council of EuropeCouncil of Europe, , NATONATO, , OECDOECD, , OSCEOSCE and  and the the G-20 major economiesG-20 major economies..

Turkey began full membership negotiations with Turkey began full membership negotiations with the the European UnionEuropean Union in 2005  in 2005

My Country: TURKEYMy Country: TURKEY Turkey's location at the Turkey's location at the

crossroads of Europe and crossroads of Europe and Asia makes it a country of Asia makes it a country of significant significant geostrategic geostrategic importanceimportance..

Given its Given its strategic locationstrategic location, , large economylarge economy and and military military strengthstrength, Turkey is a , Turkey is a major regional powermajor regional power..

My Country: TURKEYMy Country: TURKEY

Turkey began full membership Turkey began full membership negotiations with the negotiations with the European UnionEuropean Union in  in 20052005

My Country: TURKEYMy Country: TURKEY

Largest Cities of TurkeyLargest Cities of Turkey

1.1. İstanbulİstanbul: 13,120,596: 13,120,5962.2. AnkaraAnkara: 4,431,719: 4,431,7193.3. İzmirİzmir: 3,950,000: 3,950,0004.4. BursaBursa: 2,605,495: 2,605,4955.5. AdanaAdana: 1,584,053: 1,584,053

My Country: TURKEYMy Country: TURKEYReligions in TurkeyReligions in Turkey1. Muslims:1. Muslims: 98% of the population 98% of the population2. Christians2. Christians

- Orthodox: 85,000- Orthodox: 85,000- Catholic: 35,000- Catholic: 35,000- Protestants: smaller number- Protestants: smaller number

3. Jewish:3. Jewish: 26,000 26,0004. Others4. Others

Ethnic groups in TurkeyEthnic groups in Turkey- Turks:Turks: 76% 76%- Kurds:Kurds: 15.7% 15.7%- Others:Others: 8.3% 8.3%

(Armenians, Greeks and Jews, Abkhazians, Albani(Armenians, Greeks and Jews, Abkhazians, Albanians, Arabs, Assyrians, Bosniaks, Circassians, Georans, Arabs, Assyrians, Bosniaks, Circassians, Georgians, Hamshenis, Laz, Pomaks, Roma. )gians, Hamshenis, Laz, Pomaks, Roma. )

Some Photos from TurkeySome Photos from Turkey

Bosphorus BridgeBosphorus Bridge in Istanbul, connecting  in Istanbul, connecting Europe (left) and Asia (right.) Europe (left) and Asia (right.)

Atatürk’s MassoleumAtatürk’s Massoleum, Anıtkabir, , Anıtkabir, AnkaraAnkara

Portion of the legendary walls of Portion of the legendary walls of Troy (VII),Troy (VII), identified as the site of the identified as the site of the Trojan War, Trojan War, ÇanakkaleÇanakkale (ca. 1200 BCE.) (ca. 1200 BCE.)

The The Celsus LibraryCelsus Library in  in Ephesus Ephesus in in İzmirİzmir, , dating from 135 AD. dating from 135 AD.

Ölüdeniz BeachÖlüdeniz Beach near  near FethiyeFethiye on the  on the Turkish Riviera. Turkish Riviera.

The Selimiye MosqueThe Selimiye Mosque in  in EdirneEdirne is one of the  is one of the most famous architectural legacies of most famous architectural legacies of the the Ottoman EmpireOttoman Empire. .

MaslakMaslak financial district  financial district in in IstanbulIstanbul..

A hanging limestone wall at A hanging limestone wall at Pamukkale, DenizliPamukkale, Denizli(Unesco World Heritage Site) (Unesco World Heritage Site)

Hierapolis, Pamukkale, Hierapolis, Pamukkale, DenizliDenizli

Mevlana Jalaladdin Rumi’s Tomb and Museum, Mevlana Jalaladdin Rumi’s Tomb and Museum, KonyaKonya

2007 was declared “the International Rumi Year” 2007 was declared “the International Rumi Year” by UNESCOby UNESCO

Come, come, whoever you Come, come, whoever you are,are,Wanderer, idolater, Wanderer, idolater, worshiper of fire,worshiper of fire,Come even though you Come even though you have broken your vows a have broken your vows a thousand times,thousand times,Come, and come yet again.Come, and come yet again.Ours is not a caravan of Ours is not a caravan of despair.despair.- Mewlana Jalaladdin Rumi -- Mewlana Jalaladdin Rumi -

Fairy chimneysFairy chimneys in Ürgüp, Nevşehirin Ürgüp, Nevşehir

A historical church in A historical church in Derinkuyu, NevşehirDerinkuyu, Nevşehir

One of the fastest growing airline companies in One of the fastest growing airline companies in the world, the world, Turkish AirlinesTurkish Airlines was chosen as the was chosen as the official carrier by Europe's leading football clubs official carrier by Europe's leading football clubs like like FC BarcelonaFC Barcelona and  and Manchester UnitedManchester United. The . The company is also the primary sponsor of company is also the primary sponsor of Euroleague BasketballEuroleague Basketball..

Esenboğa International Esenboğa International AirportAirport in  in AnkaraAnkara. .

The historic The historic İstiklal Avenueİstiklal Avenue in Istanbul's  in Istanbul's cosmopolitan cosmopolitan Beyoğlu district.Beyoğlu district.

The The Sultan Ahmed MosqueSultan Ahmed Mosque in  in Istanbul. Istanbul.

One of the main entrance gates of the One of the main entrance gates of the Dolmabahçe PalaceDolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul. in Istanbul.

Istanbul ParkIstanbul Park racing circuit a few  racing circuit a few hours before the F1 hours before the F1 Turkish Grand Turkish Grand PrixPrix. .

Church of Saint Peter, HatayChurch of Saint Peter, Hatay

Sümela Monastery, TrabzonSümela Monastery, Trabzon

City of City of Safranbolu Safranbolu (UNESC(UNESCO World Heritage O World Heritage Site)Site)

MardinMardin

Monastery of Deyrul Monastery of Deyrul ZafranZafran, Mardin , Mardin

Akdamar Cathedral, Akdamar Cathedral, VanVan

sunset in sunset in AntalyaAntalya

Konyaaltı Beach, Konyaaltı Beach, AntalyaAntalya

Düden Waterfall, Düden Waterfall, AntalyaAntalya