Why Turkey?
Turkish Republic
According to the Constitution, Turkey is a republic, and at the same time it is a democratic, secular and social state governed by the rule of law respecting human rights and committed to the founder and first President of the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk's principles and nationalism. Secularism is the important principle that the basic social, economic, political and legal order of the state may not rely, even partially, on religious rules.
The Constitution of the Republic of Turkey guarantees the rights of Turkish citizens to lead dignified lives and develop their material and spiritual being. Everyone is equal before the law and the constitution does not allow any discrimination based on language, religion, denomination, race, skin color, gender, political opinion, or philosophical beliefs.
The following clauses of the constitution cannot be amended: The Turkish State is a republic, The Turkish State is an indivisible whole, with its country and nation, The language of the Turkish State is Turkish, The Turkish State has a flag with a white crescent and pentagram on a red background, The national anthem of the Turkish State is the Istiklal Marsi (Independence March), The capital of the Turkish State is Ankara.
The Republic of Turkey is based on a secular, democratic, pluralistic and parliamentary system. The Turkish Grand National Assembly is comprised of 550 deputies elected every five years. Every Turkish citizen over the age of 18 has the right to vote and every Turkish citizen over the age of 30, who has completed primary education, has the right to stand for election. The nation is governed by the Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister. The President is the head of State and represents the Republic of Turkey and the unity of the Turkish Nation. The President is elected by the Turkish Grand National Assembly for a seven year term of office. Turkey is a founding member of OECD, the Black Sea Economic Co-operation Organization, a member of NATO, the Council of Europe, the Islamic Conference Association and an associate member of the European Union.
Healthcare
Healthcare used to be dominated by a centralized state system run by the Ministry of Health. In 2003 the governing Justice and Development Party introduced a sweeping health reform program aimed at increasing the ratio of private to state health provision and making health care available to a larger share of the population. Turkish Statistical Institute announced that of the 76.3 billion of Turkish Liras spent on healthcare. 79.6% of it was covered by Sosyal Güvenlik Kurumu (Social Security Administration) and only 15.4% was out-of-pocket. There are 27,954 medical institutions, with one doctor for every 587 people and 2.54 beds for every 1,000 people.
Geography
Turkey occupies a rectangular-shaped peninsula of land at the crossroads between Europe, Asia and Africa; home to countless civilizations and a crossing point between the continents over several ages.
A vast country 814,578 square kilometers or 314,510 square meters in area with a beautiful coastline stretching 8333 km or 5187 miles, it is approximately 3.5 times the size of the UK. It is situated on two continents, 3% in Europe (Thrace) and the remainder of the landmass, including Anatolia, in Asia and Istanbul is the only city in the world straddled on two continents, separated by the Bosphorus strait, which runs from the Black Sea through Istanbul and into the inland Sea of Marmara which flows through the Dardanelles and out to the Aegean.
Turkey is bordered to the north by the Black Sea, to the west by the Sea of Marmara and Aegean and to the south by the Mediterranean. Due to its position and the fact that Turkey is at the meeting point of three different climatic zones, it is home to a tremendous variety of landscapes and plants so being a paradise for travelers and naturalists. There are dense forests in the northern Black Sea and the southern Mediterranean regions, coastal plains on the western Aegean; mountain pastures inland, deserts to the southeast and lakes throughout the country.
Regions
Turkey is separated into seven geographical regions, which are, in order of size: East Anatolia, Central Anatolia, Black Sea, Mediterranean, Aegean, Marmara and Southeast Anatolia.
Beaches
You will find the beaches of Turkey to be some of the most beautiful in the world. It is along these long shores where you there are so many great beaches to choose from. There are water sports and great places to sunbathe, all within the scenery of the Aegean, Mediterranean, or Black Sea Coast. Each has something to offer and are a unique blend of history, natural wonder, and culinary variety.
Wondrous Landscapes
Having a complex geological past has left some wondrous traces on the landscape, most notably the white, lunar rocky fairy-chimney forms of the Cappadocian countryside and the white travertine terraces of Pamukkale which literally means cotton castle. This varied landscape is also reflected in the crops grown in the different parts of the country: tea to the northeast, hazelnuts to the north, olives and tobacco to the west, wheat inland and fruit throughout, to name just a few.
According to the Constitution, Turkey is a republic, and at the same time it is a democratic, secular and social state governed by the rule of law respecting human rights and committed to the founder and first President of the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk's principles and nationalism. Secularism is the important principle that the basic social, economic, political and legal order of the state may not rely, even partially, on religious rules.
The Constitution of the Republic of Turkey guarantees the rights of Turkish citizens to lead dignified lives and develop their material and spiritual being. Everyone is equal before the law and the constitution does not allow any discrimination based on language, religion, denomination, race, skin color, gender, political opinion, or philosophical beliefs.
The following clauses of the constitution cannot be amended: The Turkish State is a republic, The Turkish State is an indivisible whole, with its country and nation, The language of the Turkish State is Turkish, The Turkish State has a flag with a white crescent and pentagram on a red background, The national anthem of the Turkish State is the Istiklal Marsi (Independence March), The capital of the Turkish State is Ankara.
The Republic of Turkey is based on a secular, democratic, pluralistic and parliamentary system. The Turkish Grand National Assembly is comprised of 550 deputies elected every five years. Every Turkish citizen over the age of 18 has the right to vote and every Turkish citizen over the age of 30, who has completed primary education, has the right to stand for election. The nation is governed by the Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister. The President is the head of State and represents the Republic of Turkey and the unity of the Turkish Nation. The President is elected by the Turkish Grand National Assembly for a seven year term of office. Turkey is a founding member of OECD, the Black Sea Economic Co-operation Organization, a member of NATO, the Council of Europe, the Islamic Conference Association and an associate member of the European Union.
Healthcare
Healthcare used to be dominated by a centralized state system run by the Ministry of Health. In 2003 the governing Justice and Development Party introduced a sweeping health reform program aimed at increasing the ratio of private to state health provision and making health care available to a larger share of the population. Turkish Statistical Institute announced that of the 76.3 billion of Turkish Liras spent on healthcare. 79.6% of it was covered by Sosyal Güvenlik Kurumu (Social Security Administration) and only 15.4% was out-of-pocket. There are 27,954 medical institutions, with one doctor for every 587 people and 2.54 beds for every 1,000 people.
Geography
Turkey occupies a rectangular-shaped peninsula of land at the crossroads between Europe, Asia and Africa; home to countless civilizations and a crossing point between the continents over several ages.
A vast country 814,578 square kilometers or 314,510 square meters in area with a beautiful coastline stretching 8333 km or 5187 miles, it is approximately 3.5 times the size of the UK. It is situated on two continents, 3% in Europe (Thrace) and the remainder of the landmass, including Anatolia, in Asia and Istanbul is the only city in the world straddled on two continents, separated by the Bosphorus strait, which runs from the Black Sea through Istanbul and into the inland Sea of Marmara which flows through the Dardanelles and out to the Aegean.
Turkey is bordered to the north by the Black Sea, to the west by the Sea of Marmara and Aegean and to the south by the Mediterranean. Due to its position and the fact that Turkey is at the meeting point of three different climatic zones, it is home to a tremendous variety of landscapes and plants so being a paradise for travelers and naturalists. There are dense forests in the northern Black Sea and the southern Mediterranean regions, coastal plains on the western Aegean; mountain pastures inland, deserts to the southeast and lakes throughout the country.
Regions
Turkey is separated into seven geographical regions, which are, in order of size: East Anatolia, Central Anatolia, Black Sea, Mediterranean, Aegean, Marmara and Southeast Anatolia.
Beaches
You will find the beaches of Turkey to be some of the most beautiful in the world. It is along these long shores where you there are so many great beaches to choose from. There are water sports and great places to sunbathe, all within the scenery of the Aegean, Mediterranean, or Black Sea Coast. Each has something to offer and are a unique blend of history, natural wonder, and culinary variety.
Wondrous Landscapes
Having a complex geological past has left some wondrous traces on the landscape, most notably the white, lunar rocky fairy-chimney forms of the Cappadocian countryside and the white travertine terraces of Pamukkale which literally means cotton castle. This varied landscape is also reflected in the crops grown in the different parts of the country: tea to the northeast, hazelnuts to the north, olives and tobacco to the west, wheat inland and fruit throughout, to name just a few.