In Turkey the mountainous terrain predominates. The two mountain chains the Pontic Mountains and the Taurus meet in the east in the Armenian Mountains, where the highest point in the country rises – the extinct Ararat volcano. Southeast of Ararat is the biggest Turkish stagnant pool – Lake Van.

Turkey is located in a restless tectonic zone and that is why string earthquakes happen often here. The largest and most fertile is the Lower Thracian valley in the European part of Turkey. The country is rich in natural resources – mostly ores, and also black coal, sulphur and marble. The ore extraction, metallurgic and building industries are developed here. The water power stations on the rapidly flowing Tigris tributaries produce 38% of the country’s electricity.

The climate is diverse. The Mediterranean coastline hosts wonderful resorts, which accommodate over 10 million tourists every year. The Turkish Riviera in many aspects competes with the French Cote d’Azur. In the interior of the country the climate is colder and more arid. Different agricultural crops are grown – wheat, rice, cotton, Oriental tobacco, tea, citrus fruits, vineyards, poppy, sesame, peanuts, and vegetables. Sheep, goats and cattle are bred everywhere.

The strategic location of Turkey has predetermined its role of a major route for trade, military campaigns and settlements by different tribes and peoples since the antiquity. That is why the history of the country and especially of the country’s largest city – Istanbul – is rich.

The Blue Mosque is one of Istanbul’s landmarks, which impresses with its beauty and the numerous shades of blue.

The St. Sofia church, located in the most populated part of Istanbul, was built in 6th c. by Emperor Justinian. The church is one of the masterpieces of the world architecture and the most remarkable monument of Byzantine art. As the legend goes, Justinian built this church in honour of his wife Teodora, who had helped him crush an uprising.

The Topkapi and Dulmabahce palaces are also worth seeing. In the courtyard of the Topkapi palace there is a garden whose area is 22 decares and which has as much vegetation as there is in the rest of Istanbul.

In the southwestern part of Turkey are located the terraced balconies of Pamukkale. For millions of years the hot water of the Pamukkale springs has fallen like a cascade down the mountain slope. The water streams have washed away the terraces and the hollows have formed warm pools.The terraces are dazzlingly white with the water-deposited calcium carbonate. Today washing in the pools is forbidden so as to preserve the natural phenomenon.