General History | Geography of Turkey | Seven Wonders
Did jou know that Turkey...

 
Is known as the Cradle of Civilisation - in fact, many civilisations have been here since         before 9000 BC.
Is central to Europe, to Asia, to Russia and the Middle East.
Is a long-time member of NATO (since 1952).
Borders 3 major seas - the Black Sea, the Aegean, the Mediterranean.
Was known as Asia Minor; the Asian side of Turkey is known as                    Anatolia.
Witnessed the first known Human Rights Declaration, in 1463, 485 years before the         Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Is where Alexander the Great cut the intricate Gordian knot - literally a phrase used for         shortcut to "solving difficult problems".
Is the birthplace of King Midas, who turned everything into gold.
Is where state insurance was first provided for tradesman who suffered losses before         the 13th century.
Has 70% of its population under 35.
Is the original destination of the most celebrated and romantic train, the Orient Express.
Was the center of two of the major empires in history, the Byzantine and Ottoman         Empires.
Provides 70% of the world´s hazelnuts; probably the nut in your chocolate bar was         grown in Turkey.
Has a 650-year old covered shopping mall of 64 streets. 3.500 shops, 22 entrances and         25.000 workers - the famous Grand Bazaar.
Is the birthplace and home of St. Nicolas - popularly known as         Santa Claus.
Is the origin of the names of Paris, Philadelphia and Europe.
Was founded as a modern republic in 1923 by one of the greatest         leaders in history, Atatürk.
Is where Noah´s Ark landed - at Mount Agri (Ararat) Eastern         Turkey.
Witnessed the first recorded international treaty in 1284 BC.
Is the originator of the fabulous Iznik ceramic tiles, which were         created  at Lake Iznik, northwestern Turkey, from the 15th         century. Many of the designs were inspired by the wall paintings         from the Roman period.
Was inhabited from the 11th century AD by Turks from Central Asia, whose origins date         back to 4000 BC.
Is the location for two of the Seven Wonders of the World - the Temple  of Artemis and         the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus.
Has 3.500 periodical publications. 1.056 radio stations and 280 TV  channels.
Has historical relics pertaining to three of the world´s major religions- Christianity,         Judaism and Islam.
Has the most valuable silk carpet in the world, in the Mevlana Museum.
Konya with 144 knots per sq.cm. In the 13th century, Marco Polo wrote The best and         handsomest of rugs are woven here and also silks of crimson and other rich colors.
Is said to have provided the water for the Garden of Eden from its 2 great rivers - the         Euphrates and Tigris.
Is the birthplace of St. Paul: for centuries, the sick have drunk from the well of St. Paul         in Tarsus.
Used its navy to rescue the Jewish people from persecution in Spain in 1492.
Is uniquely in two continents - Europe and Asia.
Gave the English language many words, including turquoise, parchment, yogurt,         meander, angora.
Is the location of the city of Troy in the west of the country, where the
Trojan War was fought for ten years.
Had the world´s first female Supreme Court Judge and gave         women the right to vote in 1934.
Is the location of the first known beauty contest,  judged by Paris         with Aphrodite, Hera and  Athena as leading participants.
Became a member of the UN as early as 1945.
Has a city, Mardin, which is one of the few places where you can         hear  the native language of  Jesus Christ - Aramaic. The final         home of the Virgin Mary, to which she traveled with St. John, is         located nearby.
Was producing wine as early as 4000 BC.
Has the first church ever built (St.Peter´s) in Antioch, southern         Turkey. It is also the site of the oldest temple at Urfa, dated         between 8500 and 9000 BC. Receives children from around the world each year on 23rd         April to  "honour and cherish the freedom and independence of all people".
Was where the cherry was first found, by the Romans who planted it  throughout the         world, at Giresun (also known as Kerasos), in the  stunning Black Sea region.
First introduced tulips to Holland and today still supplies tulips to the world.
Has the earliest landscape painting, dating from 6200 BC.
Reputedly has one of the world´s 3 greatest cuisines.
Has the beautiful Bosphorus waterway dividing Europe and Asia with  two great bridges         and masses of ferries, permitting access to Central Asia.
Eastern Europe and Russia.
Has 9.000 species of flowers. It is also 80% mountainous; has an abundance of rivers         and lakes; and has clear, turquoise blue waters on the Aegean and Mediterranean         coasts.
Is modern and sophisticated, yet has more ancient sites than any other  country.
Was the first to produce and use coins 2.700 years ago.
Is the location of the Seven Churches of Asia.
Is one of the safest countries in the world, according to comparative statistics.
Is technologically well advanced with almost 100% of its transmissions digitised.