TURKEY

Turkey, officially the Republic of Turkey (Turkish Türkiye Cumhuriyeti), a nation in western Asia and southeastern Europe. The vast majority of Turkey is composed of the Asian territory of Anatolia, or Asia Minor,a large mountainous peninsula. The capital city, Ankara, is located there. The rest of Turkey, called Eastern (or Turkish) Thrace, occupies the far southeastern part of Europe. This region of rolling fertile hills is home to İstanbul, Turkey’s largest city. Asian Turkey and European Turkey are separated by three connected waterways of great strategic importance: the Sea of Marmara and the straits of the Bosporus and the Dardanelles (also called the Turkish Straits). Together, they form the only water route between the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea, an arm of the Mediterranean Sea. Turkey borders the Aegean Sea and Greece on the west; Bulgaria on the northwest; the Black Sea on the north; Georgia, Armenia, and the autonomous Azerbaijani republic of Naxçivan on the northeast; Iran on the east; and Iraq, Syria, and the Mediterranean Sea on the south. Turkey’s coastline is extensive and makes up about three-fourths of the country’s total boundary . The landscapes of Turkey are varied, from fertile plains in the northwest and southeast to broad river valleys in the west to high barren plateaus and towering mountains in the east. In the rugged Asian interior, the climate fluctuates dramatically, with cold, snowy winters and hot, dry summers. Along the Mediterranean coastline the climate is less extreme, with warm summers and mild, moist winters. For centuries Turkey’s economy was predominantly agricultural. Today, farming remains a key sector of the Turkish economy and accounts for about 34 percent of national employment. However, Turkey has experienced considerable growth in industry and services—including finance, transportation, and professional and government services. Head of the Vet.Services OIE Delegate Goegraphy  Area 779,452 sq km 300,948 sq mi Coastline 7,200 km 4,474 mi Highest point Mount Erciyes 3,916 m/12,848 ft The total area of Turkey is 779,452 sq km (300,948 sq mi). Anatolia, the eastern portion of Turkey, forms about 97 percent of the country’s area. Most of Anatolia is mountainous and arid, with the exception of the narrow plains along the Aegean, Black, and Mediterranean coasts. Eastern (or Turkish) Thrace in southwestern Europe makes up the remainder of the country. This area is characterized by rolling plains surrounded by low mountains. Mount Ararat, Turkey Mount Ararat (Turkish Ağri Daği), in Turkey’s eastern highlands, rises in two peaks. The highest, Great Ararat, is 5,165 m (16,945 ft) and is perpetually covered in snow. Turkey can be divided into seven geographic regions: Thrace and the borderlands of the Sea of Marmara; the Aegean and Mediterranean region; the Black Sea region; western Anatolia; the central Anatolian Plateau; the eastern highlands; and southeastern Anatolia. Van Guölü (Lake Van), Turkey The largest lake in Turkey, Van Gölü (Lake Van), is located in the easternmost part of the country, surrounded by wooded mountains. The water of the lake is salty and supports very little animal life. Numerous rivers drain Turkey’s plateaus and mountains, in many cases cutting deep gorges on their way to the coast. The rivers are usually swift flowing and relatively short; none can be navigated by large ships. A number of rivers do not flow during the dry summer. Some rivers are, however, important sources of hydroelectric power and water for irrigation. The Kızılırmak (1,150 km/715 mi long), which crosses the Anatolian Plateau in a broad arc before emptying into the Black Sea, is the longest river flowing entirely within Turkey. Natural Resources Turkey’s most important mineral resource is coal. However, since the early 1990s, Turkey’s total coal production has not been sufficient to meet domestic demand. There are also natural gas deposits in Eastern Thrace and petroleum fields in southeastern Anatolia; these energy resources can supply only a small fraction of domestic demand. Turkey is one of the largest producers of boron ore in the world, and has a number of other small but important mineral deposits. These include chromium near Guleman and Fethiye in the southwest, high-grade magnetite at Divriği in central Turkey, and antimony, asbestos, bauxite, iron, lead, mercury, pyrite, sulfur, and zinc in scattered areas. Copper and silver are also found in small quantities. Compared to the rest of the Middle East, Turkey has considerable water resources, and these support a rich and diverse agricultural sector. Climate The Mediterranean and Aegean shores of Turkey have a dry subtropical climate, similar to that of Greece and southern Italy. Summers are long and warm and winters are mild. Plants and Animals Along the Mediterranean and Aegean coasts and parts of the Marmara region, the characteristic plant cover at low elevations is of the Mediterranean type. It includes stunted trees, bushes, and a variety of thorny, flowering, and bulbous plants. Trees include evergreen oak, pine, laurel, and myrtle. Evergreen scrub forests are found at higher elevations where precipitation is greater. The forests of the Kuzey Anadolu Dağları (Northern Anatolian Mountains) in the northeast, where rainfall is heavy, are the densest and most commercially valuable in Turkey. Eastward from Sinop on the central Black Sea coast, where the Mediterranean type of vegetation ends, the forests are composed of deciduous hardwoods such as maple, walnut, oak, and hazelnut. Grasslands and grain fields are abundant on the dry Anatolian Plateau, with sparse alpine forests restricted to higher slopes. Various types of grasses, including alpine species, are common. Trees and shrubs grow mainly along stream courses. On the lower slopes of mountains surrounding the plateau, trees such as juniper, carob, and oak are interspersed with grasslands and low bushes. Asian animal species generally predominate in Turkey, although some European animal species are also found because the land has long served as a passage between the two continents. The lynx, wolf, bear, fox, and jackal are the major carnivorous types; the gazelle, deer, and wild boar are the principal herbivorous types. Many varieties of rodent are also found. Of Turkey’s larger animals, only boar remain abundant in forested areas. Wolf, fox, wildcat, hyena, jackal, deer, bear, marten, and mountain goat inhabit more remote areas. Domesticated animals in Turkey include the camel, Asian water buffalo, and Angora goat. Numerous local species of birds include the wild goose, partridge, and quail. In addition, several birds of prey—including the lesser spotted eagle, buzzard, hawk, kestrel, and falcon—follow a migratory route along the Bosporus. Trout are abundant in the mountain streams, and bonito, mackerel, and bluefish are plentiful in the Turkish Straits. Anchovies are caught in the Black Sea. Environmental Issues Turkey’s most serious environmental problems stem from human impacts, especially industrialization, commercial agriculture, rapid urbanization, and tourism. One of the most important threats to Turkey’s environment is water pollution. The discharge of industrial wastes has polluted many rivers, and agricultural runoff has led to pollution of the Mediterranean Sea. Water pollution has also damaged marine life and habitats in the Black Sea. People of Turkey Population 70,413,958 (2006 estimate) Population density 91 persons per sq km 237 persons per sq mi (2006 estimate) Urban population distribution 66 percent (2003 estimate) Rural population distribution 34 percent (2003 estimate) Largest cities, with population Istanbul, 9,451,000 (2000) Ankara, 3,023,000 (2000) Izmir, 2,409,000 (2000) Official language Turkish Izmir The city of Izmir, located at the head of the Gulf of Izmir, is one of the chief seaports of western Turkey. The population of Turkey is 70,413,958 (2006 estimate). The average population density is 91 persons per sq km (237 per sq mi). Urbanization has progressed rapidly in recent decades. In the mid-1970s, Turkey was still a predominantly rural society, with nearly 60 percent of its citizens living in the countryside. In 2003, 66 percent of the people lived in urban areas. The highest population concentrations are in Istanbul and in coastal regions. Economy of Turkey Gross domestic product (GDP in U.S.$) $303 billion (2004) GDP per capita (U.S.$) $4,220 (2004) Monetary unit 1 New Turkish lira (YTL), consisting of 100 new kurus Number of workers 26,508,629 (2004) Unemployment rate 10.3 percent (2004) National Output Turkey’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2004 was $302.8 billion. Some 22 percent of the GDP was contributed by industry, 13 percent by agriculture, and 65 percent by government and private services. Agriculture Since 1950, Turkey’s agricultural output has increased through the use of more machinery and fertilizer and more productive plant varieties. Turkey is one of a handful of countries in the world that produces an overall surplus of foods. The diversity of climates in Turkey allows many specialty crops to be grown, including tea, figs, and silk. Cereals and livestock are raised on the Anatolian Plateau. In this region most farmers own some of the land they cultivate, and large landholdings are the exception. Cereals—including wheat, barley, and maize—and livestock together account for about two-thirds of Turkey’s total agricultural output. In areas where irrigation is possible, a broader range of crops is grown, including cotton, sugar beets, grapes, and other fruits. The livestock industry is of special significance in the mountainous eastern provinces. Sheep are the main livestock, and Turkey produces more wool than any other country in Europe. Cattle provide milk, meat, and hides, and are used as draft animals. Goats, horses, donkeys, water buffalo, and camels are also raised. The long silky hair of Angora goats, called mohair, is used to make a soft yarn. In the more fertile coastal areas, especially in the Aegean and Mediterranean region, large landholdings worked with hired labor are common. In these areas, important export crops such as cotton and tobacco are raised, as well as olives, grapes, figs, and many other varieties of fruits. Cotton is also widely grown on the Adana Plain. The intensively cultivated Black Sea coastlands produce tobacco, tea, hazelnuts, sugar beets, potatoes, and other vegetables and fruits. Animal Population Cattle  10 411 226 Sheep  23 151 912 Goats  6 012 194 Buffaloes  71 193 Forestry and Fishing Although 13 percent of Turkey’s area is classified as forested, lumbering is relatively unimportant. Only about one-third of the forested area has commercial value. The remainder produces shrub and brush useful primarily as a fuel. Nearly all of Turkey’s forests are owned and managed by the government. In 2004, 15.8 million cubic meters (558 million cubic feet) of timber was cut. About one-eighth was sawed into lumber; most of the rest was used as fuel. The fish catch in 2001 was 594,971 metric tons; most of the fish came from the Mediterranean and Black seas. Anchovies generally make up the bulk of the catch, which is relatively small. Sardines, mullet, mackerel, and whiting are also caught. Mining Turkey maintains an important place in world mineral production. The country is among the world’s leaders in the production of chromium ore and boron. Large deposits of iron ore are worked in the country’s northeastern area. Fossil fuel extraction in southeastern Turkey is used primarily to meet domestic demands; in 2004 Turkey produced 16.5 million barrels of petroleum, 560 million cubic meters (19.8 billion cubic feet) of natural gas, and 48.2 million metric tons of coal. Most of the coal was low-grade lignite, which is mined in many areas, although some amounts of higher-grade coal were extracted. Other mineral products included copper, bauxite, manganese, antimony, lead, zinc, and sulfur. Northwestern Anatolia is the world’s top producer of meerschaum, a fine white clay used for making tobacco pipes.