Turkey - Istanbul
The world's only city on two continents has been a crossroads of trade, culture, learning and art for over 3,000 years as well as the capital of three of the greatest empires the world has known. It is no accident that Istanbul was the city the Eastern Roman emperors, the Byzantine dynasty and the Ottoman sultans chose to call home.
Istanbul is a city of unparalleled historical and cultural richness that is as fascinating and historical as it is dynamic and modern. Serving as the capital of three mighty empires and set squarely between two continents, Istanbul has cultures and traditions that blend East with West and Mediterranean with Anatolian. Each civilisation that has made its home in Istanbul has left its mark in some way, and the result we see today is a city that could only have come about after thousands of years of diverse cultures each adding a little something. Istanbul stands with one foot in Europe and another in Asia, and has a vibrant atmosphere rooted in history, while facing toward the future.
Places of Interest
It's hard to know where to start when you begin talking about sightseeing in Istanbul. A high ancient Roman wall may abut a glittering skyscraper, an ornate Ottoman mosque may stand only metres away from both a Greek Orthodox church and a synagogue, and a fantastically modern bridge may lead you to a narrow cobbled street filled with restored centuries-old houses.
More about places of interest www.icvb.org/istanbul_spoi.asp
Shopping
From the legendary Grand Bazaar to Akmerkez or Metrocity, ranked as the best shopping malls in Europe, to the stylish streets of Nisantasi and Bagdat Caddesi, Istanbul has what you're looking for
More about shopping www.icvb.org/istanbul_shop.asp
Entertainment and Nightlife
From the ubiquitous sounds of live, traditional Turkish music and dancing in restaurants throughout the city to cultural and artistic events, international festivals, and glitzy clubs and bars on the Bosphorus, Istanbul is a city that knows how to entertain, and it knows how to party.
More on entertainment and nightlife www.icvb.org/istanbul_enl.asp
Facts and Figures on Turkey
Turkey is an important country in the world of youth and student travel and education, and WYSTC delegates are looking forward to the opportunities to explore Istanbul and Turkey, both for the high-level professional development WYSTC offers and for the personal enrichment and enlightenment that visiting Turkey promises.
Here are some relevant facts and figures for your preparations:
| Country Name | Government | Languages | ||
Republic of Turkey (official); shortened to Turkey |
Republican parliamentary democracy; capital city, Ankara. |
Turkish (official), Kurdish, Dimli (or Zaza), Azeri, Kabardian |
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| Population | Literacy | Currency | ||
Approx. 71,000,000 (2005 census est.) – over 60% are age 35 and below, with approximately 22% of the entire population currently in primary and secondary level education. |
Definition: age 15 and over able to read and write |
New Turkish Lira (Yeni Türk Lirasi – YTL or TL) |
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| Electricity | Time Zone | Regional Proximity | ||
Turkey operates on 220 volts, 50 Hz, with round-prong European-style plugs that fit into recessed wall sockets/points. |
GMT+2: All of Turkey is on Eastern European time – two hours ahead of London, seven hours ahead of New York, and 10 hours ahead of Los Angeles. |
Turkey's geographical location is an ideal base from which to take trips to surrounding regions to visit partners. You can reach Switzerland, Poland, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, etc., in under three hours by plane; two hours or less to get to Bulgaria, Greece, the Balkans, Egypt, Cyprus; and an easy trip to Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Jordan, Kazakhstan, etc. And because of this regional proximity, Turkish youth and students are traveling to and studying in Azerbaijan, Georgia, the Ukraine, France, Germany, Holland, Switzerland – all around Europe, the Middle, Near and Far East, as well as North America and Oceania. There are direct and connecting flights from Istanbul's Atatürk International Airport, and many from Ankara and Izmir, to the many active outbound-youth markets with Turkish Airlines, Turkey's national carrier, as well as the many destinations' national carriers. |
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| Location | Area | |||
Southeastern Europe and Southwestern Asia (the portion of Turkey west of the Bosporus is geographically in Europe), bordering the Black Sea between Bulgaria and Georgia, and bordering the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea between Greece and Syria. |
total 780,580 sq km: land: 770,760 sq km, water: 9,820 sq km. Turkey boasts 7200 km of coastline along the Black, Aegean and Mediterranean Seas with a strategic location controlling the Turkish Straits (Bosporus, Sea of Marmara, Dardanelles) that link Black and Aegean Seas; Mount Ararat, the legendary landing place of Noah's Ark, is in the far eastern portion of the country |
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| More information available on Wikipedia - Click here or on Wikitravel - Click here. |
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