Turkey, officially the Republic of Turkey, is a state located mainly in South-West Asia, and in part (about 3 per cent of the territory) - in South-Eastern Europe. The official language is Turkish. To the east Turkey is bordered by Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Iran; to the south - by Iraq and Syria; to the west - by Greece and Bulgaria. The country is washed by four seas: the Black Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, the Aegean Sea and the Sea of Marmara. The capital of the country is Ankara; while the largest city is Istanbul.

In Turkey climatic conditions depend on the regions. While the coastal regions have a moderate climate, in the inland Anatolia plateau there is a dryer steppe climate with hot summers and cold winters. The Black Sea region has a wet, warm and humid climate.

The national currency is the Turkish lira. Money can be easily changed at all banks, post offices and change offices. ATMs are widely spread. Most shops and restaurants accept credit cards.

Turkey is a modern Western country with a long history and ancient traditions. Convenient geographical position at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, as well as amazing nature, golden sandy beaches, picturesque mountains and crystal-clear, gentle and warm sea make Turkey attractive to visitors from all over the world.

Many tourists start their journey with Istanbul, the former capital of the Christian Byzantines and the Islamic Ottoman Empire, where you can see unforgettable Blue Mosque, Aya Sofya Museum and the Topkapi Palace. Drink a cup of aroma coffee with traditional Turkish baklava beneath Istanbul's Galata Bridge or smoke nargile, watch a beautiful sunset and feel the atmosphere of this ancient city.

In Galata Mevlevihanesi you can watch dervishes whirling in their mystical dance; in the Grand Bazaar you can buy some jewelry, carpets, hand-painted ceramics, spices, embroideries or just enjoy this oriental mosaic of colors and sounds; in the thermal pools of Pamukkale you can relax and forget about your maladies – and then continue your journey around Turkey: you have a lot ahead.

Nature lovers will be charmed by the moon landscapes of Goreme National Park; by the white waters of the Çoruh River; by the huge Mount Ararat and by the wilderness and rough beauty of Van Lake.

Connoisseurs of history will be happy to visit the ruins of Troy and the remains of the Acropolis and the Asklepion in Pergamum; the Mamure Kalesi, founded in the 3^rd century and strikingly well-preserved and the giant carved monuments of Mount Nemrut; and, of course, Ephesus built in the 10^th century BC.

Airports

Esenboğa International Airport (ESB) located near Ankara.

Istanbul Atatürk Airport (IST) serves Istanbul.

Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) serves İstanbul.

İzmir Adnan Menderes International Airport (ADB) located in İzmir

Erkilet International Airport (ASR) situated near Kayseri.

Diving in Turkey

Turkey can boast warm, crystal-clear waters and a lot of dive sites. Here you will find varied underwater landscapes, featuring tunnels, rocky pinnacles and caverns and many wrecks.

The most popular dive sites are at Bodrum, Fethiye, Marmaris, Alanya and Kas.

One of the main attractions of Fethiye is the picturesque Aladins Cave, inhabited by many marine critters.

At Kas there are about 30 different dive spots, suggesting opportunities for wreck-diving, cave-diving, exploring underwater canyons, reefs and tunnels. Here you can meet barracudas, dorados, stingrays, sea turtles, octopuses, groupers and moray eels.

At Alanya, which is a good place for night diving, you will find caverns, caves and steep cliffs. All the dive sites are situated rather close to each other.

At Marmaris you can explore Wreck Rock, a small island that became the resting place for many Roman and Grecian ships. There is high probability of finding some ancient pottery on the bottom.

Kusadasi boasts uncrowded transparent waters without strong currents and tides.