Investment Property - Turkey At The Crossroads
For anyone about to invest in the emerging Turkey property market, it's a good idea to discover as much as possible about this ancient land at the crossroads of Asia and Europe, to uncover its mysteries and try to imagine what the future holds for those who reside within its extensive borders. In this article we are going to set the scene by taking a brief look at modern-day Turkey.
Turkey is a huge country! It is over 1600 km in length and 800 km wide, giving it a roughly rectangular shape. It's area - including several lakes thus encompasses over 783 thousand square kilometres, most of it in Asia. Turkey is in fact the 37th largest country in the world. On three of its sides it is surrounded by water - the Black Sea in the north, the Aegean to the west, and the Mediterranean to the south. Of course one must not forget the famous sea of Marmara in the north-west.
Turkey is divided into 7 very distinct regions geographically: the Mediterranean, Marmara, Black Sea, Aegean, Eastern Anatolia, South-Eastern Anatolia and Central Anatolia. All possess very distinct landscapes which are the result of many earth movements of millions of years. And to this day there are regular earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. There was a most severe earthquake in 1999.
With regard to climate, that of Turkey is Mediterranean and temperate, with hot, dry summers and mild, wet and cold winters, though conditions can be much harsher in the dryer interior. Turkish seasons are very distinct. The central Anatolian Plateau is much more subject to extremes than the coastal areas. Winters on the plateau are especially severe. Temperatures of -30 C to -40 C can occur in the mountains of the east, and snow can be found 120 days a year.
Turkey is very diverse and original culturally. It is a subtle fusion of the ancient Anatolian, Ottoman and Western cultures and traditions which began with the gradual westernization of the Ottoman Empire, and to this day continues. Following its gradual transformation from a religion controlled state into a modern nation with separation of church and government, the artistic life of the country also underwent a massive enlarging and diversification, with the government investing in the fine arts, new museums, theatres and building construction. The resulting contemporary Turkish culture is one of a diversified fusion of the old and the new, combining tradition and history with Western ideas.
The resulting rich cultural mix is found in all walks of life, and particularly in the areas of music and literature. Indeed, music schools have sprung up all around the country, teaching styles as diverse as traditional Turkish music and western pop. The same applies in the domain of creative writing - the traditional Persian-inspired style is today fused with a more Western approach and rhythm.
Architecturally, Turkey possesses a unique mix of traditions. In addition to the traditional Byzantine elements present everywhere, many remains of the later Ottoman architecture, with its exquisite blend of local and Islamic traditions, are to be found throughout the country, as well as in many former territories of the Ottoman Empire. From the 18th century, Turkish architecture has been increasingly influenced by Western styles, and this can be seen particularly in Istanbul where buildings like the Blue Mosque and the Dolmabahce Palace are set against a background of modern skyscrapers.
Moving on to sport, the most popular sport in Turkey is the ubiquitous football. The major teams include Galatasaray, Besiktas and Fenerbahce. In fact Turkey is now becoming a major international force in the game, with Galatasaray winning both the UEFA and UEFA Super Cups in 2000. Then a short while after, Turkey finished third in the World Cup finals in Japan.
However football is far from being the only popular sport in Turkey. Other sports are also very popular, including basketball, volleyball and motor racing. However, the teams to have enjoyed the most international success by far have been the women's volleyball teams, which have triumphed in many European competitions, winning several medals and titles.
I hope that this brief introduction to contemporary Turkey has provided some insights into this large and fascinating country at the dawn of its cultural re-awakening and transition in the heart of Europe. In further articles, we'll be taking a look in more detail at the property markets and integration into Turkish society.
Article Source: http://www.search-raven.com
About the Author
For lots of information about Turkey, property for sale Turkey and the Turkish way of life, visit the Turkish property specialists at the Turkey Property web site.
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