Turkey has an area of 774,815 sq km. The Thracian and Asian sides are divided by the Bosphorus, Marmara Sea and the Dardanelles. Anatolia is a high plateau region rising progressively towards the east, and is broken by the valleys of about fifteen rivers, including the Tigris and the Euphrates. There are numerous lakes and some of these such as Lake Van, are as large as inland seas. In the north, the eastern Black Sea Mountain chain runs parallel to the Black Sea; in the south, the Taurus Mountains sweep down almost to the narrow, fertile coastal plain along the sea coast. Turkey enjoys a variety of climates, changing from the temperate climate of the Black Sea region, to the continental climate of the interior, then, to the Mediterranean climate of the Aegean and Mediterranean coastal regions. The coastline of Turkey's four seas is more than 8,333 km long.

Turkey has been called "the cradle of civilizations" and by traveling through this historic land the tourist will discover exactly what is meant by this phrase. The world's first town, a Neolithic city at Catalhoyuk, dates back to 6,500 BC. From the days of Catalhoyuk up to the present time, Turkey boasts of a rich culture that through the centuries has made a lasting impression on modern civilization. Being an heir of many centuries of civilizations makes Turkey a paradise of wisdom and cultural wealth. Hattis, Hittites, Phrygians, Urartians, Lycians, Lydians, lonians, Persians, Macedonians, Romans, Byzantines, Seljuks, and Ottomans have all held important roles in Turkey's history, and ancient sites and ruins scattered throughout the country give proof to each civilization's unique distinction.
Turkey also has a very fascinating recent history. Upon the decline of the Ottoman Empire, a young man named Mustafa Kemal, who was a soldier by occupation but a great visionary in character, took the defeat of World War I and turned it into a shining victory by liberating Turkey of all foreign invaders. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk founded the Republic of Turkey on the 29th of October 1923. He led his country into peace and stability, with tremendous economic growth and complete modernization. Through decades of change and growth Turkey still boasts of this success by effectively living on their adopted motto of "Peace at Home, Peace in the World".