If you’re a seasoned Turkey tourist or are considering a visit, aside from the usual knowledge about resorts and tourist attractions, here are some other fascinating Turkey facts that you might not know:
- Turkey boasts the third-highest number of Facebook users anywhere in the world, with a staggering 14 million users. Only the U.S. and U.K. rank above it.
- The famous Grand Bazaar of Istanbul is the most prominent outdoor market. It covers 64 streets, contains 4000 stores, and employs 25,000 people! It was established during the 1400s.
- Santa Claus was born in Patara, Turkey, during the 3rd century A.D.
- Almost all of the population of Turkey are Muslim, but the country is not officially recognised as a Muslim country. It has held secular status since 1927.
- Turkey remains the 6th most popular holiday destination on earth, receiving millions of visitors annually.
- It is a land of incredible history, with at least 150 archaeological digs annually.
- The famous stones of Göbekli Tepe discovered in 1994 have been carbon-dated back 13,000 years. This makes it one of the most significant archaeological sites ever discovered, as it’s older than the pyramids and Stonehenge.
- Istanbul is unique in that it sits across two continents. A small 3% is located in Europe and 97% in Asia.
- Noah’s Ark is said to have rested on Mount Ararat in Eastern Turkey. Mount Ararat is a dormant volcano and the highest peak in Turkey at 5,166 m.
- The biggest grower of hazelnuts is Turkey which produces 80% of hazelnut exports worldwide.
- The world’s oldest discovered shipwreck was uncovered and examined in the Mediterranean region of Uluburun, around 6 miles from Kas. It was over 3,000 years old! For a holiday in this areas, consider a Villas in Kas at a site like https://kas4villarentals.com
- The famous words spoken by Julius Caesar of “Veni, Vidi, Vici” were expressed in Turkey after his defeat of Pontus, a kingdom of the Black Sea region.
- The first coins in human history were made of electrum and used in the Aegean region in 640 BC.
- The Mediterranean resort of Antalya boasts the world record for having the largest number of ‘Blue Flag’ beaches. The ‘Blue Flag’ awards things like cleanliness, water purity, and the highest standards.
- Imagine a sea so beautiful it inspires the name of a colour. The colour turquoise comes from the word turc, literally meaning Turkish. It came from the incredible colour of the Mediterranean Sea on the southern Turkish coast.