Geographical Location of Turkey

Turkey serves as a corridor extending from Asia to Europe due to its geographical location, while Europeans have always perceived it as a gateway to the East. Being surrounded by seas on three sides (Mediterranean, Aegean, and Black Sea) has enabled Turkey to establish relationships not only with its land neighbors but also with countries worldwide throughout history. Its long coastline and unique bridge-like geography have influenced the routes of many migration movements and trade routes throughout history.

The 780,200 km² portion of Turkey's territory, which resembles almost a rectangle on the map, forms the region called Asia Minor or Anatolia, extending as a peninsula in the east. The remaining 24,378 km² is located in the Balkan Peninsula in the west, where Thrace is situated. With a total area of 814,578 km² and a coastline of 8,272 km, Turkey is a country surrounded by seas, serving as a connecting element between the European and Asian continents.

Turkey is a high-altitude country dominated by mountainous formations; however, it also features extensive plateaus, plains, and basins. These geographical conditions have naturally influenced the climate, infrastructure, economic activities, and living conditions of the population, resulting in different vegetation, wildlife, and agricultural cultures in each of the country's seven geographical regions.

Mountain ranges extend along the coast in the north and south of mountainous Turkey. The North Anatolian Mountains rise in the north, while the Taurus Mountains rise in the south. The vast plains of Central Anatolia are partially separated by these mountain ranges. Mountain masses become denser and form high peaks in the east, while mountain ranges become lower in the west. In the Aegean and Mediterranean regions, mountains are frequently interrupted, which has led to the formation of various basins. Plateaus and plains cover large areas in Southeastern Anatolia, kilometers away from the foothills of the Taurus Mountains. In Eastern Anatolia, Mount Ararat (with the extinct volcano Mount Süphan beside it) stands at 5,137 meters as Turkey's highest mountain. Other well-known mountains in Southeastern Anatolia are Karacadağ, Raman, and Sof.

Many of Turkey's rivers are used for energy production. The Euphrates and Tigris rivers of Eastern Anatolia flow into the Persian Gulf, while Central Anatolia's Yeşilırmak, Kızılırmak, and Sakarya rivers flow into the Black Sea. In the west, the Susurluk, Biga, and Gönen streams flow into the Mediterranean, while the Gediz and the Greater and Lesser Menderes rivers reach the Aegean Sea.

9,200 km² of Turkey's territory is covered by lakes, most of which are located in Eastern Anatolia. Lake Van, Turkey's largest lake at 3,713 km² where ships navigate, along with Lakes Erçek, Çıldır, and Hazar are found in this region. The large lakes in Central Anatolia are shallow and salty; for example, Lake Tuz, Turkey's second-largest lake at 1,500 km², is located here. Lakes Akşehir and Eber are also in this region.

The Sea of Marmara, along with its straits, and the Black Sea are extremely important waterways for international trade and shipping. The Sea of Marmara and the Bosphorus Strait, entirely within Turkey's borders, open to the Black Sea, while the Dardanelles (Çanakkale Strait) provides connection to the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas. The Aegean and Western Mediterranean coasts are particularly indented, resulting in the formation of many bays and gulfs.