Turkey Tours

Posts Tagged ‘anatolia’

HELPFUL  HINTS:

-The national currency in Turkey is Turkish Lira but, in holiday resorts and big cities in Turkey  you can use EURO, US DOLAR and GBP.

- It would be wiser exchanging in one of the banks or exchange offices. Unless it’s a public holiday, banks are open in weekdays  between 08:30 till 17:00 and provide standard services nationwide.

-International credit cards such as American Express, master and visa cards are accepted by all the shops, restaurants,hotels and  banks in Turkey.

-Time zone : Turkey  is two hours ahead of Greenwhich Meantime and seven hours ahead of Eastern Standart Time.

-Water : In most of the cities it’s safe to drink tap water, but in some areas it can taste unpleasant.You can drink bottled spring water, which is inexpensive.

-Health: There are many public and private hospitals in the country. All health insurance policies covering Turkey  are valid within the country borders. In case of necessity you should contact offical representatives of health insurances.

-Drug stores/ Pharmacy: You can access imported and domestic pharmaceuticals.Most of them sell herbal remedies as well as the medicals. You can discuss your intended use and advice the pharmacist of any prescribed or non-prescribed medication that you may be currently taking since most of them speak English in big cities.

-Electricity : Main electricity in the town is 220 watt, 50 (hz). British and American visitors will need plug adapters for their electrical appliances because,  plugs and sockets are same as in continental countries of European Union.

-Since it is an old tradition you can feel free about bargaining in traditional shop.

- Useful numbers:  112 ambulance / 155 police / 156 military police  / 110 fire department.

THE SOUTHEASTERN ANATOLIA:

Representing only  9.7%  of the total area of Turkey, the Southeastern  region is the smallest region of the country with its 75.000 square kilometers of land.

The Southeastern region has nine provinces, which are, Adiyaman, Batman, Diyarbakir, Gaziantep, Kilis, Mardin, Sanliurfa, Siirt, Sirnak.

Among the most important agricultural productions, vegetable products, grains such as wheat, barley and lentils, cotton,a valuable type of tobacco called “the Oriental Type” olives and pistachio nuts can be counted. Petroleum is the most important underground resource in the region.

Earliest settlements date back to the Paleolithic age in the region. In the same area remains from different periods and civilisations can be seen; Hurris, Hittites, Assyrians, Persians, Romans, Byzantines, Seljuk Turks and Ottomans.

Zeugma, famous for its floor mosaics, was an important Roman city  which is located 10 km from Nizip in Gaziantep province today is worth to see. Known as the second longest city walls after the Great Wall of China, Diyarbakir City Walls were first constructed by the Roman Emperor Constantius.

Hasankeyf which was the capital of the Artukogullari in the twelfth century, is the most important historical center near Batman with its beautiful structures such as the citadel, the remains of a large bridge over the Tigris River, the Grand Mosque and the Zeynel Bey Tomb. are important historical assets in the county. The largest arched bridge of Turkey, the Middle East and the Balkans is the Malabadi Bridge, remaining from the twelfth century, and located over Batman Stream.

Sanliurfa, one of the most sacred cities in Turkey is the city where the Prophet Abraham, the father of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, was born.

Mardin province in this region is located on the rail and highway routes connecting Turkey to Syria and Iraq. The city witnessed various civilizations in history such as; Hurri-Mitani, Hittites, Surs, Babylonians, Persians, Romans, Arabs, Artuklus  and the Seljuk Turks.

Other must sees of the region are, Nemrut Mountain (90km South-east of Adiyaman province), Commagene, Hasankeyf , Gobeklitepe and the Deyrulzaferan Monastery.

THE EASTERN ANATOLIA:

The Eastern Anatolia Region, which encompasses the eastern provinces of Turkey,  has the highest average altitude (2.200m), largest area, and lowest population density of all regions of the country. It is located in the eastern part of Turkey and bounded by Central Anatolia Region on the west, Black Sea Region on the north, Southeast Anatolia Region and Iraq on the south, and with Iran, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia on the east.
Winters are long and very cold and summers are short and cool in the high lands  and warm in the lowlands in the Eastern Anatolia region. Annual temperature difference of the region is the highest in Turkey. It has the lowest average temperature of all Turkish regions.(-25°C). The summer average is about 20°C.
Animal husbandry and agriculture are the main economic activities in the Eastern Anatolia Region. One fourth of the total production of animal products in Turkey takes place in this region.
Ararat, a dormant volcano located at Agri province near the Russian and Iranian borders is the highest peak of the country (5,160m above sea level), where Noah’s ark is believed to came to rest.The largest lake of Turkey covering an area of 3,755 km² is the Lake Van, located in this region.
Provinces of this region are, Agri, Ardahan, Bingol, Bitlis, Elazig, Erzincan, Erzurum, Hakkari, Igdir, Kars, Malatya, Mus, Tunceli and Van.
The island of Akdamar which is famous for its church in Lake Van is a must see in the region together with Mt. Ararat, Kars province on the ancient Silk Road, the medieval city of Ani; ornated with many churches, mosques and caravanserais and Tigris river.