• is known as the Cradle of Civilisation - in fact many civilisations have been here since before 9000 B.C.
• Is central to Europe, to Asia, to Russia and to the Middle East.
• Borders 3 major seas - the Black Sea, the Aegean, the Mediterranean.
• Is a long time member of NATA (since 1952).
• Witnessed the first known Human Rights Declaration in 1463, 485 years before the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
• Is where Alexander the Great cut the intricate Gordian Knot, literally a phrase used for a shortcut to solving difficult problems.
• Is the birthplace of King Midas who turned everything to gold.
• Is where state insurance was first provided for tradesmen who sufferered losses, before the 13th Century.
• Has 70% of it's population under 35.
• Is the original destination of the most celebrated and romantic train, the Orient Express.
• Was the centre of two of the major empires in history, the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires.
• Provides 70% if the world's hazelnuts, probably the nut in your chocolate was grown in Turkey.
• Has a 650 year old covered shopping mall of 64 streets, 3,500 shops, 22 entrances and 25,000 workers - the famous Grand Bazaar.
• Is the birthplace and home of St Nicholas - popularly known as Santa Claus.
• Is the origin of the names Paris, Philadelphia and Europe.
• Was founded as a modern republic in 1923 by one of the greatest leaders in history, Ataturk.
• Is where Noah's Ark landed - Mount Agri (Ararat) Eastern Turkey.
• Witnessed the first recorded international treaty in 1284 B.C.
• Is the originator of the fabulous Iznik ceramic tiles, where were created at Lake Iznik, North Western Turkey, from the 15th Century. Many of the designs were inspired by the wall paintings from the Roman period.
• Was inhabited from the 11th Century A.D. by Turks from Central Asia, whose origins date back from 4000 B.C.
• Is the location of 2 of the 7 Wonders of the World; the Temple of Artemis and the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus.
• Has 3,500 publications, 1056 radio stations and 280 TV channels.
• Has historical relics pertaining to three of the world's major religions; Christianity, Judaism and Islam.
• Has the most valuable silk carpet in the world in the Mevlana Museum, Konya with 144 knots per sq. cm. In the 13th Century Marco Polo wrote "the best and handsomest of rugs are woven here and also silks or crimson and other rich colours".
• Is said to have provided the water for the Garden of Eden from two great rivers; the Tigress and the Euphrates.
• Is the birthplace of St Paul - for centuries the sick have drunk from the well of St Paul in Tarsus.
• Used it's navy to rescue the Jewish people from persecution in Spain in 1492.
• Is uniquely in two continents - Europe and Asia.
• Gave the English language many words including turquoise, parchment, yogurt, meander and angora.
• Is the location of the City of Troy in the west of the country where the Trojan war was fought for 10 years.
• Had the world's first female Supreme Court Judge and gave women the right to vote in 1934.
• Is the location of the first known beauty contest, judged by Paris, with Aphrodite, Hera and Athena as leading participants.
• Became a member of the U.N. as early as 1945.
• Has a city, Mardin, which is one of the few places where you can hear the native language of Jesus Christ - Aramaic. The final home of the Virgin Mary to which she traveled with St John is located nearby.
• Was producing wine as early as 4000 B.C.
• Has the first church every built (St Peters) in Antioch, Southern Turkey. It is also the site of the oldest temple at Urfa, dated between 8500 and 9000 B.C.
• Receives children from around the world each year on 23rd April to honour and cherish the freedom and independence of all people.
• Was where the cherry was first found by the Romans, who planted it throughout the world, at Giresun (also known as Kerasos) in the stunning Black Sea region.
• First introduced tulips to Holland and today still supplies tulips to the world.
• Has the earliest landscape painting, dating from 6200 B.C.
• Reputedly has one of the world's 3 greatest cuisines.
• Has the beautiful Bosphorus waterway, dividing Europe and Asia with two great bridges and masses of ferries, permitting access to Central Asia, Eastern Europe and Russia.
• Has 9000 species of flowers. It is also 80% mountainous, has an abundance of rivers and lakes and has clear turquoise blue waters on the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts.
• Is modern and sophisticated, yet has more ancient sites than any other country.
• Was the first to produce and use coins, 2700 years ago.
• Is the location of the Seven Churches of Asia.
• Is one of the safest countries in the world, according to comparative statistics.
• Is technologically well advanced with almost 100% of its transmissions digitised.

Taken from "The Best Kept Secret" by Christopher Lawrence.