Fun facts you may want to know about Türkiye!
Two Continents: Türkiye straddles Europe and Asia, with Istanbul as the only city in the world spanning two continents, connected by the Bosphorus.
Ancient History: Türkiye is home to some of the world’s oldest structures, like Göbekli Tepe (circa 9600 BCE), predating Stonehenge and the Pyramids.
Cappadocia’s Fairy Chimneys: The region’s unique rock formations and underground cities, carved by ancient civilizations, attract millions of tourists.
Santa Claus Origin: St. Nicholas, the inspiration for Santa Claus, was born in Patara and served as a bishop in Myra (modern-day Antalya).
Tulip Birthplace: Contrary to popular belief, tulips originated in Türkiye, not the Netherlands, and were exported to Europe in the 16th century.
First Peace Treaty: The Treaty of Kadesh (1274 BCE), signed between the Hittites and Egyptians in Türkiye, is the earliest known peace treaty.
Coffee Culture: Türkiye gave the world Turkish coffee, a UNESCO-recognized cultural heritage, brewed in a special pot called a cezve.
Mount Agri/Ararat: The legendary resting place of Noah’s Ark, this dormant volcano is Türkiye’s highest peak at 5,137 meters.
Unique Language: Turkish is part of the Turkic language family, with a unique agglutinative structure, and uses a Latin-based alphabet since 1928.
Bazaar Grandeur: Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, established in 1461, is one of the world’s oldest and largest covered markets, with over 4,000 shops.