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Turkey, also known as the Republic of Turkey, is a transcontinental country that is located at the intersection of Europe and Asia. A major part of the country comprises the Anatolia Peninsula, which is part of western Asia.
Only 3% of the country that includes Rumelia in Balkan Peninsula is part of Europe. The Bosphorus, Sea of Marmara and Dardanelles separate Asian Turkey from the European Turkey.
The borders of the country are surrounded by four seas, Aegean Sea in the west, Black Sea in the north, Sea of Marmara in the northwest and Mediterranean Sea in the south. Ankara is the capital of this democratic and constitutional republic.
Out of the 7,37,22,988 people living in Turkey, 80% are Turks and rest of the population comprises Kurds and other ethnic groups. Around 75% of the population speak Turkish, which is the official language of the country.
Kurdish and Zazaki are the other local languages that are spoken by the rest of the population. In this secular country, the major religion is Islam which is followed by most of the population.
The first human settlement in Turkey started during the Stone Age in 7500 BC in the region nearby Catalhuyuk. The Turks arrived in the country during the 11th century, when the Seljuq Empire conquered the Byzantine Empire. After the Seljuq dynasty, Mongols invaded Turkey. During this period, the Ottoman State emerged as the most powerful by conquering Rumelia and Istanbul.
The Ottoman Empire prospered under the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent during the 16th and 17th century. After the defeat of Turkey in World War I, allied powers captured Istanbul, Anatolia and Eastern Thrace.
To gain independence, a military was formed by the Ankara Government and was headed by Mustafa Kemal. Under his leadership, the Republic of Turkey gained independence and became a free country in 1923. Ankara was then declared as the capital city.
Historically, Turkey played a significant role and the Trojan Wars were fought in western Turkey. A wooden model of the Trojan horse can still be seen on the site. Further, during her last few days, Virgin Mary resided in Selcuk (Izmir). The world's first university was found in Harran which is located in south-east Turkey.
The Temple of Artemis, which was one of the wonders of the world, was situated at Ephesus. However, presently only ruins can be seen in Izmir. Likewise, the Mausoleum, another wonder of the world was situated at Halicarnassus and its ruins can still be found in Bodrum, Mugla.
The best time to visit Turkey is during spring (April through mid-June) and autumn (September and October). Eastern Turkey can be best explored from late June till September.
Tourists wishing to travel around the region of the Black Sea can plan a tour during April and September. Western Turkey is best visited during the months of April to June and September to November.
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