FACTS
Location: Southeastern Europe and Southwestern Asia (that portion of Turkey west of the Bosporus is geographically part of Europe), bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Georgia, and bordering the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, between Greece and Syria
Area (only Total) total: 780,580 sq km Climate: temperate; hot, dry summers with mild, wet winters; harsher in interior Terrain: high central plateau (Anatolia); narrow coastal plain; several mountain ranges Population: 71,892,807 (July 2008 est.) Main Language (only first): Turkish Government type: republican parliamentary democracy Capital (Name): Ankara Capital (Time Difference): UTC+2 Independence: 29 October 1923 (successor state to the Ottoman Empire) National holiday: Republic Day, 29 October (1923) HOLIDAYS January 1 New Year's Day March 21 Noruz April 23 National Sovereignty and Children's Day May 6 Hidirellez Festival May 19 Ataturk Commemoration and Youth & Sports Day vAugust 30 Victory Day October 29 Republic Day October 1 Ramazan or Seker Bayram(Eid Al Fitr) December 8 Kurban Bayram(Eid Al Adha) Weekend - Saturday, Sunday
