ABOUT TURKEY

Name

Republic of Turkey / Date of declaration as a republic; October 29th 1923 and celebrated as a national holiday.

CONSTITUTION & GOVERNMENT

Turkey has a Republican parlimentary democracy, and first constitution was accepted in the final periods of the ottoman Empire, in 1876 under the name of Kanun-i Esasi (The Principle Law).The 1921 Constitution was the second constitution founded and issued during the years of Independence War and had contained obligatory rules compelled by the war situation and conditions. Three constitutions were issued in the Republic Period. The first constitution of the Turkish Republic was accepted in 1924, the second constitution was accepted in 1961and the third and still valid constitution was accepted in 1982. The services and the authorities of the organs of legislation, execution and judgement and the public associations and organizations were determined in the constitution in accordance with the principle of the separation of power. Legislation is run by TBMM (The Grand National Assembly of Turkey) of which deputy elections are executed in five-year periods. The Execution organ is composed of The President of the Turkish Republic and the Board of Ministers. Judgement; the independent courts and supreme judgement organs use the judgement authority in Turkey. The judgement section in the constitution is set on the basis of the guarantee of the judges and the independence of the court based on jurisprudent state basis. The necessity of this search of justice is the basic guarantee of the human rights.

LOCATION & GEOGRAPHY

Turkey is located in the southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia as a bridge between the two continents. The portion of Turkey in Asia is known as "ANATOLIA" and the portion of Turkey which is in Europe is known as "Thrace".
Turkey is divided into 7 geographical regions and the administrative divisons are 81 provinces (some of them can be see above).
Total area of Turkey is 708.580 sq.km - 97% is Anatolia and 3% is Thrace. In comparison Turkey is slightly larger than TEXAS.
Land; 770.760 sq.km and water is 9.820 sq.km.
Terrain; highly central plaeau (Anatolia); narrow coastal plain; several mountain ranges and 55% pf the total area lies above 1000 m. of altitude.
Borders; Armenia 268 km, Azerbaijan 9 km, Bulgaria 240 km; Georgia 240 km, Greece 206 km, Iran 499 km, Iraq 352 km and Syria 822 km (the longest one), Coastline 7.200 km.
Climate; Turkey is located at the south of the medium climate zone when the geographical location is taken into consideration and is under the effect of "Mediterranean Climate", which is a type of subtropical climate in which the summer season passes dry.
Mediterranean Region
The Mediterranean climate is encountered among the shoreline in which the summer season is hot and dry and winter season is warm and precipitant. Burdur and Isparta provinces behind the Toros (Taurus) Mountains to the west are the transition region between the Mediterranean climate and terrestrial climate. It is possible to swim in Mediterranean Region for the duration of 7 months ( Starting from the beginning of May until the end of October.) Aegean Region The Mediterranean climate is encountered among the shoreline. The climate hardens when moved towards the inner regions. At these regions, the terrestrial climate starts. The swimming season in Aegean Sea is 4-5 months (Between June and end of October ).
Marmara Region
The winter season is extremely cold. The frost events and snow precipitation is frequently encountered. The drought situation of summer season is lesser when compared with Mediterranean. The swimming season in Marmara Sea is 3 months (Between June and end of August). Sometimes it is possible to swim in sea in September
Black Sea Region
The Black Sea climate, which is precipitant in all seasons is separated into three types. In Eastern Black Sea Region (Trabzon, Rize) the precipitation is at the highest value, the summer season temperature is high and the winter season temperature is warm. In Central Black Sea Region, (Ordu) the precipitation is respectively in lesser values. It resembles the Mediterranean climate. The Western Black Sea Region (Zonguldak, Sinop) has low precipitation and the moisture ratio in summer season is low. The season for swimming in Black Sea is between the end of June until the middle of August.
Central Anatolia Region
The winter season is cold and the summer season is slightly warmer than the drought encountered in the Mediterranean climate type. The precipitation occurs in spring and autumn.
Eastern Anatolia Region
The severe terrestrial climate is encountered in Eastern Anatolia and the winter season continues for a long period with snow and frequent frost events. Summer seasons are chilly in respect to Southeastern Anatolia Region.
Southeastern Anatolia Region
The steppe climate type is encountered and in the summer season, very high temperatures are encountered. The drought is extremely severe. The evaporation is dense and might reach to 1000-2000 mm. or more yearly.

POPULATION

Excluding Turks living abroad, population is appoximately 70 million. Age Structure; 0-14 years: 26.6%, 15-64 years 66.8% 65 years and over 6.6% Population growth rate is 1.13% .

RELIGION

99% Muslims (mostly Sunni), other 1% (mostly Christians and Jews)

LANGUAGE

Turkish; latin characters replaced the arabic alphabet in 1928.

INDUSTRIES

textiles, food processing, autos, mining (coal, chromite, copper, boron), steel, petrolium, construction, lumber,paper.

MAIN EXPORTS

Wool, cotton, fabrics, tobocco, fruits and chromite

EXPORT PARTNERS

Germany 16.3%, UK 8.6%, US 8%, Italy 7.3%, France 5.7%

MAIN IMPORTS

Machines, chemical products and motor vehicles

IMPORT PARTNERS

Germany 15.3%, Italy 8.3%, Russia 7.3%, France 6%, UK 4.7%, US 4.4%, Switzerland 4.1%.

Back to top