Turkey, surrounded by sea on three sides and land on one, bridges the continents of Europe and Asia. This unique geographical location has served as the birthplace of many great civilizations and as a center of commerce. The country's neighbors have further enriched the land's cultural diversity: Bulgaria, Greece, Georgia, Armenia, and the Black Sea on the north; Iran and the Azerbaijan to the East; Iraq, Syria, and the Mediterranean Sea on the south; and, lastly, the Aegean Sea to west.

Turkey, with its capital in Ankara, occupies approximately 779.452 square kilometers. A population of 67.8 million resides in seven distinctive regions: Aegean, Mediterranean, Marmara, Black Sea, Central Anatolian Region, Eastern Anatolian Region, and South Eastern Anatolian Region. Each area's climate is equally unique-the long hot summers and mild, rainy winters of the Mediterranean and Aegean shores, for example, stand in sharp relief to the inhospitable climate of hot, extremely dry summers and bitter winters in the Eastern mountainous area.

Each of these seven regions also offers contrasting cultural and rich historical experiences. The Aegean, for example, has a magnificent coastline of untouched beaches, framed by olive groves and pine trees set against a rocky landscape. Quaint fishing harbors and modern holiday resorts coexist with the remains of ancient civilizations encompassing more than 5000 years of history and culture. The Aegean is also home to the best preserved classical city of antiquity, Efes (Ephesus); similarly, the Byzantine citadel of Seljuk stands near to what some claim as the site of the Apostle's tomb, built on the 6th century Basilica of St. John.

The Southeast Toros (Taurus) Mountains and northeastern Black Sea Mountains frame the Eastern Anatolian Region. The color spectrum of the eastern and southeastern lands is one of the highlights of the region: the green forests and pastures of Kars, snowy tops of the biblical Mount Ararat, and deep blue waters of Lake Van. Armenian and Byzantine monasteries and churches, Seljuk mausoleums and caravanserais, elegant Ottoman mosques, and hilltop citadels bear witness to the region's long and turbulent history.

The very rich historical cultural heritage of the Southeastern Anatolia Region begins as early as 7000 B.C. in the New Stone Age. These magnificent historical sites encircled by the Firat (Euphrates) and the Dicle (Tigris) Rivers, are also the home of Abraham the Patriarch, revered by Judaism, Christianity, and Islam sharing the same monotheist tradition. More archeological remains can be seen in Harran, an important Mesopotamian historical and cultural center, where the ruins of one of the largest and oldest Islamic learning centers are evident. The largest and most multifaceted development project in the country as well as in the world, the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP), includes active farming with extensive irrigation systems and electricity production.

The Mediterranean Region (the Turkish Riviera) with its year round sunshine quite naturally constitutes a paradise for sunbathing, water sports, and mountain climbing. One of the major cities in this region, Antalya, boasts of the ability to combine multi-seasonal sports in one area: in early spring, visitors can ski mornings and swim afternoons in the warm waters of the Mediterranean. The region also possesses several important historical sites set in a landscape of pine forests, olive and citrus groves, as well as palm, avocado, and banana plantations. In addition to the Mediterranean's natural beauty, this tourism capital has attracted long-term visitors not only because of its excellent range of accommodation and facilities but the natural hospitality of its people as well.

Mountaintops of dense pine forests looking down at agricultural valleys below in the Black Sea Region dot Turkey's Bulgarian to Georgian borders. Along the coastline, miles of beautiful, expansive beaches provide sun, swimming, and relaxation. Springtime brings profuse floral displays as delicate wild-flower blossoms carpet the rolling meadows of the eastern hills and meadows. Turkey, particularly this region, is heir to the legacy as one of the world's largest flower producers. Many plants and flower varieties mentioned in classical and medieval treatises are found here in abundance. The wooden houses of fishing villages and mountain hamlets demonstrate traditional culture indigenous to the region. Such diverse landscape provides opportunities for hiking, mountain climbing, canoeing, and mountain biking.

Although Ankara is Turkey's capital, Istanbul in the Marmara Region has often been harkened to the country's soul: this city embraces two continents, one arm reaching out to Asia and the other, Europe. Through the heart of the city, is the Bosphorous, where the waters of the Black Sea, the Sea of Marmara, and the Golden Horn meet. Another important strait separating Europe from Asia is the Dardanelles, the most important waterway of the Çanakkale province in the Marmara region. The Gallipoli and Biga Peninsulas comprise Çanakkale's respective European and Asian shores. Possession of this 60 km waterway has been of strategic importance throughout history as the gateway to Istanbul and the Black Sea from the Mediterranean. This area's crucial location is evidenced in classical remains juxtaposed with modern images: a replica of the world famous Trojan Wooden Horse stands amidst the historical ruins of the different settlements; a national park commemorates the Turkish soldiers who died while fighting against those soldiers from Britain, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand during World War I.

The Central Anatolia Region, home to the capital Ankara, forms Turkey's heartland. A landscape dominated by volcanic peaks is divided by canyons, covered with wheat fields, and framed by poplars. This plateau is also a cradle of human civilization. At Çatalhöyük, remains of settlements as old as the eighth millennium B.C. have been unearthed. Here is the homeland of many civilizations and the historic battleground between East and West: the Hattis, Hittites, Phrygians, Galatians, Romans, Byzantines, Seljuks, and Ottomans all fought for to establish their rule. In the 11th century, migrating Turks from the east made the plateau their own.

In its turbulent history, Central Anatolia has endured the invasions of great conquerors such as Alexander the Great and Tamerlane. During these thousands of years, inhabitants of the region have replicated in their art and architecture the dramatic history of the surrounding landscape: the Çatalhöyük paintings, the grace of Seljuk architecture, to, more recently, the impressive modernity of governmental structures, other public buildings and those commemorating Atatürk.