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Welcome to TURKEY an extra service of European City Guide / ECG
Information about TURKEY
For millennia, Turkey was a country of extreme importance and high power. Due to the fact that it was on the main trade route between Europe, Africa and Asia, he who ruled this land usually also ruled most other countries, and empires have been coming and going for almost 4000 years. This importance is reflected in the rich historical and cultural heritage. Turkey was even the setting for many Greek and Roman legends, and many of these sites have been preserved and restored. Travelling the 1000 miles from east to west takes you through mountains, rolling steppe, meandering rivers, rich agricultural valleys and a craggy, beachy coastline. With such an array of geographical features, Turkey offers a myriad of activities, from skiing and mountaineering, to scuba diving and cycling. Turkey"s food retains a very Eastern flavour. Shish kebab (skewer-grilled lamb) is a Turkish invention and you"ll find kebapçis everywhere. Lamb and fish dishes are the restaurant staples. Look out for imam bayildi ("the priest fainted"), a delicious stuffed eggplant dish. Desserts are sweet (often honey-soaked) and tend to incorporate fruit, nuts and pastry in tempting combinations. The national drink is çay (tea). Today, Turkey is a major centre for clothes manufacturing, and its leather products are renown. Their application to join the EU has given focus and urgency to efforts at modernising economical and social models.
General Information Capital: Ankara Area: 783,562 km2 Population: 72,600,000 Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz IDD: +90 Timezone: GMT +2 Hrs (+3 Hrs MAR-OCT)
Language Language: Turkish (official). Kurdish and other
Government Government: Republic since 1923
Religion Religion: 98% Muslim, mostly Sunni, with a small Christian denomination
Health Health: Diphtheria, Hepatitis A, Tetanus, Typhoid (sometimes).
Currency Currency: Turkish Lira (TRL) 1.00 = 100 Kurus
Exchange Rate Exchange Rate: ALL 100 = USD = 146.885 TRY EUR = 220.210 TRY
GBP = 243.275 TRY CHF = 145.780 TRY
Business Hours Business Hours: Mon-Fri: 08.30-12.30 13.30-17.00
Traffic Traffic: Traffic drives on the right.
Driving License Driving License: International or national license.
National Holidays National holidays: Jan 1 Apr 23 May 19 Aug 30 Oct 29
Climate Climate: Temperate; hot, dry summers with mild, wet winters; harsher in interior
Temperatures Temperatures: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec A 0 1 5 11 16 19 23 23 18 14 8 2 P 33 31 33 33 48 25 13 10 18 23 31 48 S 3 4 6 7 9 11 12 12 10 7 5 3 A=Aver. Daily Temp. (°C)
Mobile Network Mobile Network: GSM 900 / 1800
GPS GPS: 39 55.48 N, 32 50 E
Shopping Hours Shopping Hours: Mon-Sat: 09.00-13.00 14.00-19.00
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