*
Is known as the Cradle of Civilisation - in fact, many
civilisations have been here since before 9000 BC.
* Is central to Europe, to Asia, to Russia, and to the Middle
East.
* Is a long-time member of NATO (since 1952).
* Borders 3 major seas - the Black Sea, the Aegean, the
Mediterranean.
* Was known as Asia Minor; the Asian side of Turkey is known
as Anatolia.
* Witnessed the first known Human Rights Declaration, in 1463,
485 years before the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
* Is where Alexander the Great cut the intricate Gordian knot
- literally a phrase used for shortcut to "solving difficult
problems".
* Is the birthplace of King Midas, who turned everything into
gold.
* Is where state insurance was first provided for tradesmen
who suffered losses before the 13th century.
* Has 70% of its population under 35.
* Is the original destination of the most celebrated and
romantic train, the Orient Express.
* Was the center of two of the major empires in history, the
Byzantine and Ottoman Empires.
* Provides 70% of the world's hazelnuts: probably the nut in
your chocolate bar was grown in Turkey.
* Has a 650-year old covered shopping mall of 64 streets,
3,500 shops, 22 entrances, and 25,000 workers, - the famous Grand
Bazaar.
* Is the birthplace and home of St. Nicholas - popularly known
as Santa Claus.
* Is the origin of the names of Paris, Philadelphia and Europe.
* Was founded as a modern republic in 1923 by one of the
greatest leaders in history, Ataturk.
* Is where Noah's Ark landed - at Mount Agri (Ararat) Eastern
Turkey.
* Witnessed the first recorded international treaty-in 1284 BC.
* Is the originator of the fabulous Iznik ceramic tiles, which
were created at Lake Iznik, northwestern Turkey, from the 15th
century, Many of the designs were inspired by the wall paintings
from the Roman period.
* Was inhabited from the 11th century AD by Turks from Central
Asia, whose origins date back to 4000 BC.
* Is the location for two of the Seven Wonders of the World-the
Temple of Artemis and the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus.
* Has 3,500 periodical publications, 1,056 radio stations, and
280 TV channels.
* Has historical relics pertaining to three of the world's
major religions- Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.
* Has the most valuable silk carpet in the world, in the
Mevlana Museum, Konya with 144 knots per sq. cm. In the 13th
century, Marco Polo wrote "The best and handsomest of rugs are
woven here, and also silks of crimson and other rich colors".
* Is said to have provided the water for the Garden of Eden
from its 2 greatrivers - the Euphrates and Tigris.
* Is the birthplace of St. Paul: for centuries, the sick have
drunk from the well of St. Paul in Tarsus.
* Used its navy to rescue the Jewish people from persecution
in Spain in 1492
* Is uniquely in two continents - Europe and Asia.
* Gave the English language many words, including turquoise,
parchment, yogurt, meander, angora.
* Is the location of the city of Troy in the west of the
country, where the Trojan War was fought for ten years.
* Had the world's first female Supreme Court Judge, and gave
women the right to vote in 1934.
* Is the location of the first known beauty contest, judged by
Paris, with Aphrodite, Hera, and Athena as leading participants.
* Became a member of the UN as early as 1945.
* Has a city, Mardin, which is one of the few places where you
can hear the native language of Jesus Christ - Aramaic. The final
home of the Virgin Mary, to which she traveled with St. John, is
located nearby.
* Was producing wine as early as 4000BC.
* Has the first church ever built (St Peter's) in Antioch,
southern Turkey. It is also the site of the oldest temple at Urfa,
dated between 8500 and 9000BC.
* Receives children from around the world each year on 23rd
April to "honour and cherish the freedom and independence of all
people".
* Was where the cherry was first found, by the Romans who
planted it throughout the world, at Giresun (also known as Kerasos),
in the stunning Black Sea
region.
* First introduced tulips to Holland, and today still supplies
tulips to the world
* Has the earliest landscape painting, dating from 6200BC.
* Reputedly has one of the world's 3 greatest cuisines.
* Has the beautiful Bosphorus waterway dividing Europe and
Asia with two great bridges and masses of ferries, permitting
access to Central Asia, Eastern Europe and Russia.
* Has 9,000 species of flowers. It is also 80% mountainous;
has an abundance of rivers and lakes; and has clear, turquoise
blue waters on the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts.
* Is modern and sophisticated, yet has more ancient sites than
any other country.
* Was the first to produce and use coins 2,700 years ago.
* Is the location of the Seven Churches of Asia.
* Is one of the safest countries in the world, according to
comparative statistics.
* Is technologically well advanced with almost 100% of its
transmissions digitised.
Taken from "The Best Kept Secret" by Christopher Lawrence,
John Melby of the Strategic Review Group.
