Turkey

Turkey is a country that stretches across two continents, Europe and Asia. It sits at a crossroads between East and West. Turkey has ancient ruins, bustling bazaars, and some of the most amazing landscapes on Earth.

Land and People

About 85 million people live in Turkey. The capital is Ankara, but the biggest city is Istanbul. Istanbul is the only city in the world on two continents. Turkey has beaches, mountains, and the fairy-tale rock formations of Cappadocia.

Very old standing stones built thousands of years ago.
Very old standing stones built thousands of years ago. (Teomancimit / Wikimedia Commons)

Culture and Fun Facts

Turkish people drink lots of tea and strong Turkish coffee. Kebabs and baklava are famous Turkish foods. The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is one of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world. Turkish carpets are known for their beautiful patterns.

Fun Facts

  • Istanbul is the only city in the world that sits on two continents.
  • Turkey introduced tulips to the Netherlands, not the other way around.
  • The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul has over 4,000 shops under one roof.

Did You Know?

Cappadocia in Turkey has amazing rock formations called fairy chimneys. People carved homes, churches, and even whole underground cities into the soft rock thousands of years ago. Today hundreds of hot air balloons float over them every morning.