GEOGRAPHY

Located between 35° and 42° north latitude, and 250 and 440 west longitude, Turkey is a big country with a small part called Thrace on Europe and a larger called Anatolia on Asia which are separated by the Marmara sea and by the straits of Bosphorus and Dardanelles. Black Sea at North, Aegean at west and Mediterranean at south surround the large peninsula of Anatolia.

Turkey is divided into 7 geographical regions :

The Marmara Region
The Marmara Region is located both on Europe and Asia. European part comprises of rolling plain and low hills, while the Asian part includes low hills and higher mountains (Uludag, for instance). The lands on both parts are excellent for farming and industry. This region with an average rainfall of 670 mm, is the second most humid region of Turkey. Among the crops of the region are sunflower, tobacco, grains, grapes, and olives of good quality. Silk production is one of the common occupations in the area.

The Aegean Region
The Aegean Region covers the lands on the Aegean coast and the hinterland extending to central Anatolia with fertile plains and river valley and high mountains. The word meander is derived from the river Menderes, the ancient Meander, meandering its way through a wide alluvial plain. Varying patches of forests, olive groves, fig and fruit orchards, tobacco and sunflower fields are the main features of the region. The climate is characterised by typical Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters.

The Mediterranean Region
The Mediterranean Region includes the lands on the Mediterranean coast, the Taurus mountain range and its plateaus extending all along the southern shore. The landscape is characterised by the Taurus range, immediately rising from the coastline and reaching as high as 3000 meters in some parts and wide plains of Pamphylia and Çukurova. The main products are citrus fruits, bananas, cotton, sesame and vegetables, while the semi-nomadic high plateaus of Taurus range offer good conditions for raising livestock and grains.

The Southeast Anatolia
The Southeast Anatolia is a land of rolling steppe with a dry climate. Except the wide wasteland, agriculture is the main occupation in the irrigated valleys and basins. Two major rivers (Euphrates and Tigris) and the large dams built over them mainly irrigate the area. Among the major product are grains, rice, grapes and vegetables.

The Eastearn Anatolia
The Eastearn Anatolia is the largest and most mountainous region of Anatolia. The average altitude is 1500-2000 M ( 4900-6550 ft.). The highest mountain of the country, Mt. Ararat, is located in this region. Long and daunting winter (from September to June), makes life difficult here. Agriculture is confined to grains such as wheat and barley, while in the south and north the climate allows raising of livestock.

The Black Sea Region
The Black Sea Region covers the area on the 1700 kms. long Black Sea coast. The high mountains lining the coast form a more or less isolated area from the inland. The rainfall varies between two or three times of the average. As a result of this humid climate and fertile soil the region is the most densely vegetated area of the country. Agricultural products include corn, tea, hazelnut and tobacco. Livestock is widely raised outside the towns and the by-products like milk and butter and cream is famous all over the country.

Border countries
Armenia 268 km, Azerbaijan 9 km, Bulgaria 240 km, Georgia 252 km, Greece 206 km, Iran 499 km, Iraq 352 km, Syria 822 km.