Turkey Geography

Contributing to the documented history of Turkey, which technically belongs to the Middle East, is its long-time recognition as the divider of Europe and Asia. Tradition dictates that territories north of the Bosphorus Straight, on which Istanbul is centred, are thought to be in Europe, and Turkey is eager to join the EU.

Touching the borders of Greece, Bulgaria, Georgia, Armenia, Iran, Iraq and Syria, Turkey spans 1700kms east to west and 1000kms north to south, with a generous claim to the coastlines of the Black, Aegean, and Mediterranean Seas. Amidst this enormous space are valleys brimming with agriculture and diverse regions of mountains, plains, desert, and breathtaking beaches and coastline. Forest carpets the land along the Black Sea and some of the Mediterranean coast.

Olive and orange groves occupy the usually dry and vegetation-sparse Mediterranean coastal areas. Inward, the terrain grows wavy, eastward is desert, and northbound brings a more moderate climate.

The animal inhabitants of Turkey are similar to those of the Balkans and a good deal of Europe, and include bears, deer, jackals, lynx, wild boar, wolves and rare leopards.