subject: Some Surprising Facts About Turkey [print this page] Some Surprising Facts About Turkey Some Surprising Facts About Turkey
Thousands of people opt for holidays in Turkey every year, with the summer being the most popular time for holidaymakers seeking relaxation, fine cuisine, and of course, sun. But while the Republic of Turkey is well known as a growing tourist hotspot, few people are aware of its rich history, so with that in mind, here are a handful of facts about this Eurasian country, and its most famous holiday destinations.
History
The name Turkey, or Trkiye in the Turkish language, comes from two words, "Turk" which is said to mean "human being" in the old Turkish language and "-iye" which means "land of" or "owner". The Turkish people began migrating to the area we now know as Turkey in the 11th century, butmany of its towns and cities, such as Marmaris, which is now a favourite of foreign tourists due to the abundance of Marmaris holidays, can be traced back to 3500 BC.
Modern Culture
Turkey has had a major impact on modern culture, as it was the country that introduced coffee to Europe, and Instanbul was named the European Capital of Culture in 2010.Turkey is also one of the founding members of the United Nations and the G20 major economies, and began full membership negotiations with the European Union in 2005.
Weather
Turkey's weather can be varied depending on the time of year, and as Turkey is split into 7 different regions, including the Black Sea Coast, the Mediterranean and the Aegean, the climate can also be very complicated to predict. Tourists holidaying in east or south east Turkey can expect long, cold winters and extremely hot summers, while holidays in Alanya, on the Mediterranean Coast promise hot summers and mild winters.
