============================== TURKEY ============================== With land on the continents of Europe (3%) and Asia (97%), Turkey forms a bridge between the two. It guards the sea passage between the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea. Its landscapes vary from fertile lowlands in European Turkey to high coastal mountains and central plains in Asian Anatolia. The climate ranges from Mediterranean on the coasts to hot summers and bitterly cold winters in the central plains. Agriculture employs over half the work force. Major crops are wheat, rice, tobacco and cotton. Manufacturing industry includes iron and steel, textiles, motor vehicles and the production of carpets for which the country is famous. Tourism is a fast-developing industry. Area (Sq. Km.): 708,573 Population: 56,549,000 Capital: Ankara Language: Turkish Religion: Moslem 98% Government Type: Republic Currency: Turkish lira Embassy: 43 Belgrave Square London SW1X 8PA 0171-235-5252 Turkey is still being discovered by the UK tourist but its cheap food and drink make for a good value, low budget holiday. As in Greece, self-catering and pension style accommodation is a good option. Also becoming popular are flotilla/sailing holidays around the islands and towns of the Aegean. Main resorts include: Izmir Kusadasi Bodrum Cesme Marmaris Fetiye Antalya Istanbul is featured as a city break in many brochures (i.e. Thomsons, Travelscene and BA City breaks) Whilst the major coastal resorts are becoming fairly well developed, the Turkish hinterland still has much poverty and this can come as a bit of a culture shock to the traveller who considers Turkey to be a European power. Brochures: Falcon Sailing Sunmed Turkey Inspirations Sunworld Airtours Turkey National airline: Turkish Airlines Major port: Istanbul, Izmir Main airports: Ankara Izmir Istanbul Charters from UK to: Dalaman Antalya Olou Deniz Electricity: 110 volts (European Turkey) «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Foreign Office Advice: Western and Central, Mediterranean and Black Sea coasts: Visitors should be aware that the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) has attacked places frequented by tourists, resulting in the death of four, including a Briton, and injuries to many others. There have been several bomb attacks in Istanbul, some in tourist areas. Further attacks can be expected. Bomb attacks also took place in Fethiye and Marmaris in summer 1994. The Turkish authorities are giving a high priority to protecting visitors. Eastern and Southeastern: There is widespread terrorism in the Southeast and in the Mount Ararat area of Eastern Turkey. Several Western tourists were kidnapped by the PKK in summer 1993 and 1994. Further similar incidents can be expected. Travel there is inadvisable unless for essential business, and then be restricted to towns and main roads. Visitors should advise the British Embassy in Ankara (Tel: 312 4686230/42) or the Consulate General in Istanbul (Tel: 212 2937545/49) of their travel plans. The main border crossings to Syria (daylight hours) are considered safe. Before travelling to Iran contact the Embassy. For more information ring: Foreign Office Travel Unit 0171-270-4129