TURKEY

Mardin is an old city in Eastern Turkey near the borders of Syria and Iraq . The city is known for its unique honey colored houses, monasteries, and mosques.

The Hagia Sophia the was first built as one of the most important Christian churches in the middle east but then became a mosque. It has the greatest church dome ever constructed. Because of this great dome it has a well illuminated interior. The building is now a museum.

• Mount Ararat (5,165 m, 16,940 ft) is the largest volcano in Turkey, although is not currently active. The volcano is located in the far northeastern part of Turkey near Iran and Armenia.

Istanbul, the ancient city of Turkey, holding over 9 million people. It is one of the most populated and cities in Turkey and is a large cultural attraction.

• Ölüdeniz (mean Dead Sea) is a sheltered lagoon surrounded by large mountains. Ölüdeniz is a peaceful quiet body of area making it an ideal place for travelers to come to.

• Artvin, covered in green lush land, is part of some national parkland. Artvin is such an attraction because of the mountains all round with heights up to 3900m and the Savsat and Borcka lakes. It rains often but in the winter on the higher peeks rain turns to snow.

• The Bosporus, (towards the center of the picture) a straight that separates European Turkey from Asiatic Turkey, but also connects the Black Sea to the north and the sea of Marmara to the south is one of the most strategic water ways in the world.

• The Cappadocia Caves lying in the center of Turkey, have slowly eroded and the arid climate that the rocks are in have given them the unique formations. Locals have used that caves as shelter, and defense but later the government removed the “cave dwellers.”

• Pamukkale is one of the special wonders of the world, formed by limestone-laden thermal springs. Pamukkale, meaning cotton castle, has taken over 14000 years to form.

• Pergamon ( now known as Bergama) is old ancient ruins but was once one of the greatest libraries in the world. It is also known for the Temple of Athena, the Temple of Trojan, and the steepest theater in the world.

• Ephesus, based as one of the ports on the Cayster River was once of the most vital cities in Turkey. Because of Ephesus’ special location it became an important commercial city.

• Mt. Nemrut (near the province of Adiyaman) became King Antiochus tomb-sanctuary with large carved statues of 8-9m of height. This 2,150m high mountain is covered in sculptures of Geek and Persian gods.

• Antalya Province, located on the cliff of the Anatolia peninsula lies along the beautiful coast line of the Mediterranean. This is a huge attraction for tourists because of the great beaches.

• The Topkapi Palace Courtyard used to be the residence of the Ottoman Sultans for about 400 years. The complex housed up to 4,000 people but then the government turned the Palace in to a museum for the imperial era.