Turkey
Turkey is a big and respectively green country as opposed to what many people may think. It is between 35 and 42 long latitude, and 25 and 44 east longitude. Philadelphia, Tokyo and Beijing are some of the cities around the same latitude as Turkey.
Turkey is divided into 7 geographic regions :
· Marmara (Marmara)
· Aegean (Ege)
· Mediterranean (Akdeniz)
· Southeastern (Guney Dogu)
· Eastern (Dogu)
· Blacksea (Karadeniz)
· Central Anatolia (Ic Anadolu)
The total area Turkey covers is a bit less than 800.000 sq km ( 774,815 sq km ), which makes it one of the biggest countries in Europe and the Middle East. The neighbours are Greece and Bulgaria on the norhtwest,Armenia and Georgia on the northeast, Iran and Irak on the southeast and Syria on the south. Of all, the Turkish-Syrian border is the longest.Turkey has no direct border with Russia, but the Black Sea on the north.The other seas that cover Turkey are the Aegean on the west and the Mediterrenean on the south. In other words, Turkey is a huge big peninsula wrapped up by seas on three sides that looks like the head of a horse, as a Turkish poet has put it. The highest mountain of Turkey is the Mount Ararat in the east, on which Noah’s Ark is believed to be ,and it is not far from the lake Van , the biggest lake of the country. Other known mountains are Mount Erciyes, Mount Hasan, Bursa Uludag ,and the mountainchain “The Tauruses”.
Ephesus
The Asian part of Anatolia comprises a large part of the present day Turkey, although the area mentioned above was only a small portion of the pre World War I. Once the Ottoman Empire had its widest borders from the Adriatic Sea to the Persian Gulf i.e. Indian Ocean. The eastern region of Turkey, Thrace, lies in Europe and has 23,000 sq km surface area. The elevation rises from west towards east and stabilizes at around 800m above sea level in the Central Anatolian Plateau. Further east, the elevation increases and reaches 2,000-2,200m on the average in eastern Anatolia. In the South, the taurus Mountains lay parallel to the Mediterranean with average elevations around 2,500m, sometimes reaching 4,OOOm above sea level. In Western Anatolia, the mountain ranges lie from east to west, perpendicular to the Aegean Sea creating fertile valleys and fields washed by the rivers of famous ancient times legends such as the Great Meander, Castros, Pactole and Selinus. These mountain ranges, perpendicular to the sea, created many peninsulas and bays and thus, a coastal line full of natural wonders.
The high plateaus east of the sunken salt lake bowl contain many volcanoes with elevations of 3,000-4,OOOm and higher. The highest of these mountains is Mt. Ararat (5,165m). The largest lake in the country, Lake Van (3,600 sq km ) is also in this region. The high plains of Eastern Anatolia are generally large areas for animal husbandry, but there are lower, warmer and more fertile plains such as the Igdir plain. The rivers that originate in this region, like Euphrates and Tigris, flow south as the elevation decreases rapidly. They water the South Eastern Anatolia region and, forming Upper Mesopotamia, they leave Turkey. In the Black Sea, it is noticeable that the mountains generally lie close to the sea. As a result of this, only several (Carsamba, Bafra, etc.) fertile plains were formed, and other than these plains, the mountains are almost perpendicular to the coastline.The region around the Marmara Sea, both in Anatolia and in Thrace has very few changes in elevation , and is comprised of large, flat, fertile lands.
TURKISH HOLIDAY RESORTS
Gumbet located at 2-3 km distance from Bodrum, Sınce the swimming possibilities are very limited in Bodrum, many people prefer nearby Gumbet. Gumbet recently became very popular resort. The town is named after numerous white-domed cisterns in the area. Gumbet, which offers one of the longest and most popular beaches on the peninsula, is also one of the popular water sports centers with water-skiing, windsurfing, parasailing. There is also several wind surfing school.
Alanya, A large popular resort Alanya, lies at one end of a rocky promontory which juts into the Mediterranean. It boasts one of the impressive 13th C fortresses of Selijuk. The city’s walls are punctuated by 150 medieval towers. Alanya is a beautiful holiday centre with modern hotels and many fish restaurants, cafes and bars. With great night life, Alanya also has the added advantage of being close to the all year round airport at Antalya.
in Antalya, the pine-clad Toros (Taurus) Mountains sweep down to the sparkling clear sea forming an irregular coastline of rocky headlands and secluded coves. The region, bathed in sunshine for 300 days of the year, is a paradise of sunbathing, swimming, and sporting activities like windsurfing, water-skiing, sailing, mountain climbing and caving. If you come to Antalya in March and April, you can ski in the mornings and in the afternoons swim in the warm waters of the Mediterranean. Important historical sites and beautiful mosques await your discovery, amid a landscape of pine forests, olive and citrus groves and palm, avocado and banana plantations.
Dalaman is typically a residential area conveniently located near to the airport. Often people bypass the region without realising the beautiful surrounding areas such as Dalyan / Koycegiz and Sarigerme with its stunning sandy beach just minutes away. A new golf course is due to be built in this area and will bring trade to the region; we are predicting this part to be flourishing in activity in a few years time.
Altinkum is situated on the southern Aegean coast. Simpler than Kusadasi, Marmaris and Bodrum, it is the ideal resort to relax in. This area is well known for its ancient ruins, the most important being Ephesus. The temple of Apollo at Didyma, Miletus and Priene are just a few kilometres away. Altinkum has three beaches with golden sands, ideal for families and children, and daily boat trips to visit beautiful local bays.
Belek is a modern resort situated 35km from Antalya. Boasting six championship golf courses and many more in construction, this area is most famous for its high quality golfing. Most hotels lead down to the beaches, which are long and golden. Pine and eucalyptus forests create a beautiful backdrop to this new resort.
Bodrum with its traditional cobbled streets, bustley atmosphere, is very popular with the Turkish and tourists alike. The Marina with its Yacht Club is considered very chic. It has plenty of western amenities, yet the region still retains its Turkish style. There are great public transport links, dolmus buses and water taxis to every town, giving people a chance to take in the fantastic scenery. The modern town of Bodrum today has fragments of its ancient ruins littered all around and often incorporated into the fabric of the buildings, which you can spot for yourself. Bodrum is a mere stones throw from everything and would suit every kind of holidaymaker.
Calis Time really does stand still! At least that’s what it feels like in the delightful little resort of Calis which just oozes Turkish charm with its laid-back and friendly atmosphere. The resort comes alive at night with its many bars and restaurants offering both Turkish and international cuisine. For those seeking a little more adventure a short ten minute taxi ride will take you into the bustling town of Fethiye.
Cesme is a charming peninsula town on the West Aegean Coast, with an abundance of stunning white sandy beaches – many of which have blue flag awards. The town centre has an array of shops, bars and famous fish restaurants. This beautiful town is an extremely popular holiday destination for the Turkish, but has yet to be discovered by anyone else.
Fethiye Once a minor market town and fishing village, Fethiye has become a thriving centre in recent years, mainly due to the fast growing popularity of the nearby resort of Oludeniz. This dates back to the 6th Century BC and traces of the ancient settlement can be seen around the town. This area is now very popular with the English, in particular the urban area of Hisaronu partly because it’s a working town and is open all year round.
Hisaronu situated on a high plateau 4km from the coast and surrounded by stunning mountains, the once sleepy villages of Hisaronu and Ovacik have combined to create a lively resort which has a distinctly British atmosphere. The nearest beaches are the famous lagoon of Oludeniz or the pebble and sand beach of Belcekiz. A dolmus leaves every five or ten minutes. The village is full of bars, restaurants and shops. This is certainly the place to haggle for any imitation designer gear. The cool mountain air can be quite a relief after a day in the sun and there is plenty to do in the evening.
Kalkan Once the most important trading port in the Teke Peninsula for the caravans of the old Silk Road, Kalkan is a smallish town. A meeting place between the Mediterranean, Syria, Lebanon and the east, it is now a tourist centre with many waterways- popular for boating. Tourism has been made easier by the modern road linking it with Fethiye. The perfect little Turkish port town.
Kemer is situated 55km from the airport in Antalya. On the way from Antalya you will drive partly through the forest while enjoying breathtaking views of the Mediterranean. Kemer is a new holiday destination, and is still one of the smaller and quieter locations on the popular sunny south coast. Kemer has something to offer everyone who prefer quietness instead of a hectic night life. Whether that be relaxing on one of the cleanest and tidiest beaches around or participating in the many water sport activities.
The Beautiful town of Koycegiz is built around a tranquil lake which feeds the river. Property here is traditional and rustic and has all the same benefits of Dalyan, as well as having the fabulous fish restaurants and mountain views. See the ancient city of Caunos on the way back to Dalyan town centre.
Marmaris Well known for its natural beauty, pine clad mountains and a fantastic coastline, full of pretty coves and inlets. A modern town, Marmaris is well able to cater for tourists with plenty of restaurants, cafés, shops and bars with a good nightlife, as well as provision for water sports and sunbathing.
Situated on a high plateau 4km from the coast and surrounded by stunning mountains, the once sleepy villages of Hisaronu and Ovacik have combined to create a lively resort which has a distinctly British atmosphere. The nearest beaches are the famous lagoon of Oludeniz or the pebble and sand beach of Belcekiz. A dolmus leaves every five or ten minutes. The village is full of bars, restaurants and shops. This is certainly the place to haggle for any imitation designer gear. The cool mountain air can be quite a relief after a day in the sun and there is plenty to do in the evening.
Side ancient Pamphylia’s largest port, is steeped in history and remains unspoiled. It retains its many Archaeological sites, many in the process of being restored. The climate is warmer on the Mediterranean coast creating a longer season and with all year access to Antalya airport, just 40 mins away. It’s a peaceful, attractive, and cultural resort, with many fine sandy beaches and golf courses nearby.
Calis Time really does stand still! At least that’s what it feels like in the delightful little resort of Calis which just oozes Turkish charm with its laid-back and friendly atmosphere. The resort comes alive at night with its many bars and restaurants offering both Turkish and international cuisine. For those seeking a little more adventure a short ten minute taxi ride will take you into the bustling town of Fethiye.
Akbuk is a peaceful and tranquil town, which lies between Bodrum and Didim. It boasts some spectacular views over the crystal clear waters of the Aegean Sea and the Bodrum Peninsula. The beaches are made up of sandy coves and the warm waters make it perfect for swimming.Kas A small photogenic town, first mentioned in Lycian times as Antiphellos. Kas still has typical Turkish scenery – small white houses with wooden balconies, the traditional market on Fridays, boats that take you to different places like Kekova or the Greek island of Kastellorizon, from its lovely small harbour.
Gocek, a small up market marine resort located between Dalaman and Fethiye. It is considered to be very stylish, you will often find various yachts and gullets moored in these tranquil waters. Uzumlu The village of Uzumlu is one of spectacular natural beauty, set in a valley surrounded by dense pine forests and rugged hillsides. It has managed to retain all the natural charm and character of a traditional Turkish Village and yet still has the convenience of a modern town like Fethiye, which is just twenty minutes drive away.
