[29 october] Happy National Day Turkey!

Day 3,631, 01:11 • Published in Turkey Romania • by VampireA
Turkey


General information


*Turkey is located predominantly in Asia, but it be considered a European country so I will put its statistics in Europe.

Population : 80 milion people (18th in the World,3rd in Europe)
Total Area : 783,356 km^2 (36th in the World)
*This is a bit tricky .. it has 23,507 in Europe that would be 37th and 783,562 Asian part that will bring Turkey to 2nd in Europe as total area.
Official languages : Turkish
Official currency : Turkish lira(TRY)
Capital : Ankara
Population density : 102 people/km^2 (107th in the World,28th in Europe)
Top 5 biggest cities : Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Bursa, Adana

Turkey is a parliamentary representative democracy. Since its foundation as a republic in 1923, Turkey has developed a strong tradition of secularism. Turkey's constitution governs the legal framework of the country. It sets out the main principles of government and establishes Turkey as a unitary centralised state. The President of the Republic is the head of state and has a largely ceremonial role. The president is elected for a five-year term by direct elections and Tayyip Erdoğan is the first president elected by direct voting.

Turkey is divided into seven geographical regions: Marmara, Aegean, Black Sea, Central Anatolia, Eastern Anatolia, Southeastern Anatolia and the Mediterranean. The uneven north Anatolian terrain running along the Black Sea resembles a long, narrow belt. This region comprises approximately one-sixth of Turkey's total land area.



National sport : Güreş




Weightlifting




National animal : Gray Wolf (Canis lupus)

Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)





National Plant : Tulip (Tulipa)




National Instruments : Saz



Kanun



Dombra





The significance of the 29th of October

Known as the Republik Day, it commemorates the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey in 1923. Turkey had de facto been a republic since 23 April 1920, the date of the establishment of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, but the official confirmation of this fact came only three-and-a-half years later. On 29 October 1923, the status of the nation as a republic was declared and its official name was proclaimed to be Türkiye Cumhuriyeti ("the Republic of Turkey"). After that, a vote was held in the Grand National Assembly, and Atatürk was elected as the first President of the Republic of Turkey.



*Coat of arms



Time for a legend that will probably explain a few of the things I talked about until know. It is probably one of the most important legends of the turks , waiting for them to give me the aprovall on this. Will try to put it as easy as it can be explained.
The Ergenekon legend


The Ergenekon legend tells about a great crisis of the ancient Turks. Following a military defeat, the Turks took refuge in the legendary Ergenekon valley where they were trapped for four centuries. They were finally released when a blacksmith created a passage by melting rock, allowing the gray wolf Asena to lead them out. The people led out of the valley found the Turkic Khaganate, in which the valley functions as its capital.

The Gray Wolf can be seen as mother or father on Turkish legends. It’s a holy animal that always show up when Turks needed a help and protect Turks and their generations for the centuries .That’s why Turks used wolf as a symbol on their flags & money.


Hope you enjoyed it and I challange you to find out and show me more of the fantastic things told about the Gray Wolf .. or other turikish legends.









Top 5 visited places by tourists


Istanbul
*Hagia Shopia

*Topkapi palace


Once serving as the capital of the Ottoman and Byzantine Empires, Istanbul today is the largest city in Turkey and one of the largest in the world. Istanbul stretches across a narrow strait that connects Asia and Europe, making it the only city in the world spanning two continents. Impressive architecture, historic sites, dining, shopping, nightlife and exotic atmosphere all make Istanbul one of the best places to Visit in Turkey. The Old City is where most of the city’s impressive historic sites are found, which include the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace.

Fantastic city if you ask me, worth visiting and I hope I will be one day there … but untill now I enjoyed it in the series Assassin Creed .. if there are any fans.



Cappadocia






Situated in Central Anatolia, Cappadocia is best known for its fairytale landscape of unusual formations resembling chimneys, cones and pinnacles. Natural processes such as ancient volcanic eruptions and erosion have all sculpted these odd formations over the ages. Thousands of years ago, mankind added remarkable touches to the landscape by carving out houses, churches and underground cities from the soft rock. The Hittites were the first to chisel out underground tunnel complexes, seeking safety from invading Persians and Greeks. Much later Christians sought refuge in Cappadocia’s tunnels and caves. Today, some of the caves in the region are actually hotels and cater to tourists.


Ephesus



Europe’s most complete classical metropolis, Ephesus is an ancient site located in Aegean Turkey. By the 1st century BC, Ephesus was one of the largest cities in all of the Roman Empire, boasting one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Temple of Artemis. The ruins of Ephesus are well preserved and contained within a large archaeological site, making it one of Turkey’s most popular tourist attractions. Its attractions include the massive Theater, the Temple of Hadrian and the magnificent Celsus Library, a two-story structure that was built to house more than 12,000 scrolls.


Bodrum


*Bodrum Castle





Located in the southern Aegean region of Turkey, Bodrum was once home to the Mausoleum, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Today, its intriguing ruins, stunning beaches and cliff-top resorts attract people from all over the world. No visit to Bodrum would be complete without seeing the Castle of St. Peter, also known as Bodrum Castle. Built from 1402 by the Knights Hospitaller it now operates as a museum. On Bodrum’s eastern side, tourists will find a beautiful beach overlooking brilliant blue water. Near the beach are plenty of cafes, bars and nightclubs. On the western side of town is the marina, shopping centers and restaurants.



Pamukkale


Pamukkale, meaning "cotton castle" in Turkish, is a natural site in Denizli Province in southwestern Turkey. The area is famous for its hot springs and enormous white terraces of travertine, a carbonate mineral left by the flowing water. It is located in Turkey's Inner Aegean region, in the River Menderes valley, which has a temperate climate for most of the year.










Top 3 locations suggested by the locals

Amasya King’s Mausoleums





One of the most favourite masterpieces in Amasya and the product of fascinating natural wonder formation, famous King Rock Tombs were carved into the limestone rocks on the skirt of Mount Harsena. This highly impressive archaeological structure belongs to the Kingdom of Pontus which creates a fantastic ambiance and open air museum for the visitors.




Yedi Göller









The Yedigöller National Park ("seven lakes") also known as Seven Lakes National Park is located in the northern part of Bolu Province in Turkey. The park is categorized under IUCN II and was established in 1965. The park is best known for the seven lakes formed by landslides and for its profusion of plant life.



Şirince





Şirince is a village of 600 inhabitants in İzmir Province, Turkey, located about 8 kilometres east of the town Selçuk and famous for its wines. Şirince acquired world-wide fame when tourists flocked to the village in December 2012 to witness the Mayan Apocalypse, as New Age mystics believed its "positive energy" would aid in weathering the catastrophe, during the 2012 phenomenon.









Inventions Turkey gave to the world


*Turskish coffee!





*Ottoman military band!



*Ottoman military bands are thought to be the oldest variety of military marching bands in the world.


*Yatagan!




*Dardanelles Gun!





*Cura!








Famous people from Turkey

Suleiman The Magnificent - was the tenth and longest-reigning sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1520 to his death in 1566. Under his administration, the Ottoman state ruled over 15 to 25 million people. Suleiman became a prominent monarch of 16th-century Europe, presiding over the apex of the Ottoman Empire's economic, military and political power. Suleiman personally led Ottoman armies in conquering the Christian strongholds of Belgrade and Rhodes as well as most of Hungary before his conquests were checked at the Siege of Vienna in 1529. He annexed much of the Middle East in his conflict with the Safavidsand large areas of North Africa as far west as Algeria. Under his rule, the Ottoman fleet dominated the seas from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea and through the Persian Gulf.
(1494-1566)

Mehmed the Conqueror - was an Ottoman sultan who ruled first for a short time from August 1444 to September 1446, and later from February 1451 to May 1481. At the age of 21, he conquered Constantinople(modern-day Istanbul) and brought an end to the Eastern Roman Empire. Mehmed continued his conquests in Anatolia with its reunification and in Southeast Europe as far west as Bosnia. Mehmed is considered a hero in modern-day Turkey and parts of the wider Muslim world. Among other things, Istanbul's Fatih district, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge and Fatih Mosque are named after him.
(1432-1481)

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk - was a Turkish army officer, revolutionary, and founder of the Republic of Turkey, serving as its first President from 1923 until his death in 1938. Ideologically a secularist and nationalist, his policies and theories became known as Kemalism.
(1881-1938)

Aziz Sancar - is a Turkish-American biochemist and molecular biologist specializing in DNA repair, cell cycle checkpoints, and circadian clock. In 2015, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry along with Tomas Lindahl and Paul L. Modrich for their mechanistic studies of DNA repair. He has made contributions on photolyase and nucleotide excision repair in bacteria that have changed his field.
(born 1946)

Fatih Terim - is a Turkish association football manager and former player. He was manager of the Turkish national football team from 2013 to 2017. His Turkish nickname is "İmparator", and his Italian nickname is "Imperatore". Terim has managed several clubs in Italy and Turkey, as well as the Turkish national team. In a survey conducted by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) in 80 countries, he was placed among the best eight managers in the world, receiving his award at a ceremony held in Rothenburg, Germany, on 8 January 2001.
(born 1953)








Traditional food


Dolma



Dolma is often used to refer to stuffed vine leaves, but encompasses any stuffed vegetable. Vine leaves are popular in Turkey, but so are stuffed peppers, courgettes, and aubergine.

Imam Bayıldı



Aubergines can be filled with rice, bulgur, mince, and/or other veg and smothered in oil and butter before being baked or cooked on the stovetop.

Tantumi



Tantuni is a spicy dürüm consisting of julienne cut beef or sometimes lamb stir-fried on a sac with a hint of cotton oil. It is a specialty of the city of Mersin, Turkey.

Döner



Döner is a typical slow cooked meat sandwich, made with chicken, lamb, or beef and served with vegetables, spices, and garlic yogurt. Döner is usually available from takeaways.

İskender kebap



A popular order at any kebab house, iskender kebab is long strips of lamb cooked in tomato sauce and served over rice and pita bread with yogurt.


Menemen


This traditional Turkish breakfast item is scrambled eggs cooked in sautéed vegetables and served hot with bread.

Pide


Often called "Turkish Pizza," Pide is a boat-shaped flatbread served with a variety of toppings, often minced meat or spinach and cheese.

Dürüm


Essentially a Turkish burrito, dürüm is slow cooked chicken, lamb, or beef served inside a wrap. The perfect takeaway food, dürüm offers the best of Turkish flavours on the go.

Traditional deserts

Güllaç



A traditional dessert most often served during Ramadan, güllaç is a uniquely textured treat made from dough, milk, rosewater, nuts, and pomegranate seeds. You might find other fruit or chickpeas in some variations.


Baklava



Nutty, syrupy, pastry dessert is never better than when served in Turkey. Often topped in ground pistachios, baklava is sweet and unique, and should be eaten fresh!

Lokum



Lokum, or Turkish Delight, is a nougaty dessert served with a variety of flavours and fillings and often topped with powdered sugar. It's always best fresh, as pre-packaged versions tend to go too light on the fillings and too heavy on the sugar, drying it out.

Mozaik Pasta



Chocolate cake made with chocolate sauce and broken biscuits is artful to look at and and delicious to eat. Available in almost any cafe, mozaik cake is also a go-to for Turkish mums, most of whom can whip up a no-bake version in no time.

Künefe



This unique Turkish dessert, made from cheese baked with shredded pastry dough and topped with pistachio, is a common treat for nights out as it's difficult to make at home.

Traditional drinks

Turkish Rakı



Türk Kahvesi










Interesting facts about Turkey:
*Being such an interesting culture I choosed 10 interesting facts instead of 5. Enjoy!

1.Turkey has some of the earliest advanced civilizations known to man. The settlements of Hacilar Catalhoyuk, Göbekli Tepe show that inhabitants had well-built civilizations dating between 10,000-6,000 B.C.
2.Istanbul’s Kapalıçarşı, or Grand Bazaar, may be the world’s largest outdoor market, with 64 streets, 4,000 shops, and 25,000 workers. It also may be one of the oldest, having been built in the 15th century on the order of Ottoman Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror.
3.The oldest known human city is Çatalhöyük in Turkey, which shows signs of settlement from the 7th century B.C.
4.Turkey is the largest grower of hazelnuts in the world; it is responsible for 80% of the world’s hazelnut exports.
5.The legendary city of Troy—of the Trojan horse, Achilles, and Paris and Helen—is located on the Aegean coast on Turkey.
6.Julius Caesar pronounced his famous words, “Veni, Vidi, Vici” (“I came, I saw, I conquered”) in Turkey when he defeated Pontus, a kingdom of the Black Sea region of Turkey.
7.Turkey is one of the few countries in the world that refers to sports directly in its constitution, in Article 59, which reads, “The State takes measures to develop the physical and mental health of Turkish citizens of all ages and encourages the spread of sports among the masses. The State protects successful athletes.”
8.About one-quarter of the roses grown in the world come from Turkey.
9.The term “Whirling Dervish” actually refers to Turkish dancers who follow the mystic Rumi. They spin during their religious meditative whirling ceremony, known as the Sema, which represents the spiritual ascent of man.
10.According to Turkish tradition, all major life events begin with eating sweets. A baby is welcomed at birth with halva, and it is also made again for a funeral. When a woman gives birth, she is given sweet fruit drinks to drink.






My 5 words when I hear about Turkey:
#Coffee,#Janisary,#OtomanEmpire,#Sultans,#Bazar


What are your 5?




Special thanks to the turkish comunity and a message from them:


Their fault this article has this information.
"Herkesi Türkiye'nin güzelliklerini görmeye, Türk insanının misafir perverliğini hissetmeye davet ediyoruz."

”We invite everybody to visit Turkey, see the beautiful sights of the country, and experience the hospitality of Turkish people”



Waiting for feedback , comments , opinions and if there is anyone that thinks I missed something , I could do something better or just wants to help me with this project , PM me !

Special thanks to Kariky for the spacers !!



Hope you enjoyed and see you next time!

P.S. Article 23/74!






P.S.2. Don't forget to push the flags !