Location: Southeast Europe, coastlines along Black Sea, Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, neighboring countries include Bulgaria, Georgia, Syria, Iraq, Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Capital: Ankara
Tourist Attractions: With great coastlines and stupendous architecture dotting the skyline, Turkey is a popular tourist destination. The cities of Ankarra, Istanbul, Harran, Bodrum and Antalya are prime tourist hubs. Aya Sofya, originally a church but now a mosque with beautiful mosaics is a classic example of great Turkish architecture. Other major tourists attractions include the magnificent ruins of Ephesus and Troy, Devrent Valley, the Göreme National Park and Mt Ararat. Also a trip to the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations is a must. The museum houses a great collection of artifacts from nine different civilizations. A word of caution: Tourists traveling to Turkey should be wary of the bird flu and localized violence generally aimed at western targets.
Access: The international airports at İstanbul, Ankara and İzmir receive direct flights from Asian, European, American and African cities. There are also hydrofoil services from Greece to Turkey. Rail links exist from Greece, Syria, Iran, Armenia and Iraq to Turkey.
Climate: The climate is varied across the region. The Black Sea coast experiences mild and rainy summer with chilly and rainy winter while the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts have mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers. The mountainous eastern region is very cold and receives snow in winters while the summers are pleasant enough.