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About Turkey

Turkey

Once the centre of the Ottoman Empire, modern Turkey was established in the 1920s by nationalist leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk emerged as a military hero in 1915 and became the charismatic leader of the Turkish Liberation movement in 1919.  Crushing the invaders of his country he led the country to full independence putting an end to the Ottoman dynasty who had led the country for more than 6 centuries.  Establishing the country as a new Republic and establishing a new representative government in 1923 he then led as President for 15 years until his death in 1938.  Mustafa Kemel Atatürk leaves an enduring monument to Turkey thanks to his leadership and the vast reforms he introduced.  He is still admired today in Turkey and around the world as a peacemaker and pioneer.  "Peace at Home, Peace in the World".

Population: 73.3 million (UN, 2005)

Major Cities: (as at 2002)
Istanbul 10 million
Ankara 4 million
Izmir 3.4 million
Bursa 2.1 million
Konya 2.2 million
Adana 1.8 million

Capital: Ankara

Area: 814 578 square kilometres (314 500 square miles)
% 3 on the European continent
% 97 on the Asian continent

Major language: Turkish

Religion: %99 of the population is Muslim. Turkey is the only country among Islamic countries, which has included secularism in her Constitution and guarantees complete freedom of worship to non-Muslims.

Monetary unit: New Turkish lira

Main exports: Fruit and vegetables, textiles and clothing, iron and steel

Internet domain: .tr
International dialling code: +90

Turkey Map

More information can be obtained from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Turkish Consulate in London, Turkish Embassy in Berlin or Turkish Embassy in Holland and at Go Turkey.