Turkey’s geographic location straddling both Europe and Asia has led to an ongoing debate about whether the country should be considered part of the Mediterranean region. As someone fascinated by geography, I decided to take a deep dive into the evidence and arguments on both sides of this question.
Defining the Mediterranean Region
The Mediterranean region generally refers to the lands surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. This includes parts of southern Europe western Asia and northern Africa. Some key defining features of Mediterranean countries include
- Having a coastline on the Mediterranean Sea
- Falling within the Mediterranean climate zone, characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters
- Shared historical ties dating back to the Roman Empire and earlier
- Influences of Mediterranean cultures, cuisine, architecture, and traditions
Places like Italy, Greece, Spain, and Morocco are unambiguously considered Mediterranean countries. But Turkey’s classification is more complex.
The Case for Turkey as a Mediterranean Country
There are several solid reasons to consider Turkey a Mediterranean nation:
-
Geography: Turkey possesses an extensive Mediterranean coastline stretching for over 1,000 miles. Some of Turkey’s largest cities including Antalya, Adana, and Mersin are major Mediterranean ports.
-
Climate: The Turkish Riviera and southern Mediterranean coast have a typical dry Mediterranean climate. Inland areas have continental climates but still experience hot summers.
-
Cultural ties: Turkey shares many cultural elements with its Mediterranean neighbors including cuisine, music, architecture, and linguistic influences. For example, smoking kebabs and drinking raki are very Mediterranean!
-
History: For centuries, parts of Turkey were controlled by Mediterranean powers like the Roman and Byzantine Empires. The Ottoman Empire ruled most of the Mediterranean basin at its peak.
-
Flora/fauna: Over 60% of the flowering plants found in Turkey also grow in other Mediterranean regions. Much of Turkey’s terrestrial wildlife resembles that of Greece and the Middle East.
-
UN classification: Several UN bodies including the UN Environment Programme include Turkey in the Mediterranean region.
So in many respects, Turkey displays strong Mediterranean features. But the picture gets more complicated when you consider Turkey’s other geographic and cultural connections.
The Case Against Turkey as a Mediterranean Country
Despite having a Mediterranean coast and climate zone, there are also arguments that Turkey should not be grouped with Mediterranean countries:
-
Most of Turkey’s area lies outside the Mediterranean zone: Over 85% of Turkey’s land area is in Anatolia which has a non-Mediterranean climate and geography.
-
Stronger ties with the Middle East: Inland Turkey shares geological features like the Anatolian Plateau with places like Iran and Iraq. Turkey has closer ethnic and linguistic bonds with Middle Eastern countries.
-
Europe/Asia crossroads: Unlike typical Mediterranean nations, Turkey straddles the Bosporus divide between Europe and Asia. Turkey has a foot in both worlds.
-
Unique cultural blend: Turkish culture mixes Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Central Asian, and Eastern European elements. Turkey’s culture is distinct rather than a pure Mediterranean offshoot.
-
Not part of Greco-Roman tradition: Unlike most Mediterranean countries, Turkey was not part of the ancient Greco-Roman sphere. The Eastern Roman Empire only controlled parts of Turkey’s coastal fringes.
So while Turkey has undeniable Mediterranean connections, it also has strong non-Mediterranean characteristics pulling it in other directions. This gives Turkey a rather hybrid identity.
After looking at the evidence, I believe the question “Is Turkey Mediterranean?” does not have a simple yes or no answer. Turkey is a multifaceted country that bridges multiple regions. Classifying Turkey as 100% Mediterranean or non-Mediterranean would both be misleading oversimplifications. Turkey contains:
- A Mediterranean climate and geographical zone along its southern coasts and Aegean region
- Vast interior regions in Anatolia with non-Mediterranean geography and climate
- A complex blend of Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Central Asian, and Eastern European cultural influences
Rather than forcing Turkey into one geographic bucket, it’s best to appreciate its crossroads location at the meeting point of Europe and Asia, the Mediterranean and Middle East. Turkey beautifully blends and bridges multiple worlds within a single country. Its mixed geography and culture is what makes this nation so fascinating to explore!
Recent NewsAug. 19, 2024, 11:07 AM ET (AP)
Turkey, country that occupies a unique geographic position, lying partly in Asia and partly in Europe. Throughout its history it has acted as both a barrier and a bridge between the two continents.
Turkey is situated at the crossroads of the Balkans, Caucasus, Middle East, and eastern Mediterranean. It is among the larger countries of the region in terms of territory and population, and its land area is greater than that of any European state. Nearly all of the country is in Asia, comprising the oblong peninsula of Asia Minor—also known as Anatolia (Anadolu)—and, in the east, part of a mountainous region sometimes known as the Armenian Highland. The remainder—Turkish Thrace (Trakya)—lies in the extreme southeastern part of Europe, a tiny remnant of an empire that once extended over much of the Balkans. Exploring Turkeys rich history and cultural heritage
The country has a north-south extent that ranges from about 300 to 400 miles (480 to 640 km), and it stretches about 1,000 miles from west to east. Turkey is bounded on the north by the Black Sea, on the northeast by Georgia and Armenia, on the east by Azerbaijan and Iran, on the southeast by Iraq and Syria, on the southwest and west by the Mediterranean Sea and the Aegean Sea, and on the northwest by Greece and Bulgaria. The capital is Ankara, and its largest city and seaport is Istanbul.
Of a total boundary length of some 4,000 miles (6,440 km), about three-fourths is maritime, including coastlines along the Black Sea, the Aegean, and the Mediterranean, as well as the narrows that link the Black and Aegean seas. These narrows—which include the Bosporus, the Sea of Marmara, and the Dardanelles—are known collectively as the Turkish straits; Turkey’s control of the straits, the only outlet from the Black Sea, has been a major factor in its relations with other states. Most of the islands along the Aegean coast are Greek; only the islands of Gökçeada and Bozcaada remain in Turkish hands. The maritime boundary with Greece has been a source of dispute between the two countries on numerous occasions since World War II.
A long succession of political entities existed in Asia Minor over the centuries. Turkmen tribes invaded Anatolia in the 11th century ce, founding the Seljuq empire; during the 14th century the Ottoman Empire began a long expansion, reaching its peak during the 17th century. The modern Turkish republic, founded in 1923 after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, is a nationalist, secular, parliamentary democracy. After a period of one-party rule under its founder, Mustafa Kemal (Atatürk), and his successor, Turkish governments since the 1950s have been produced by multiparty elections based on universal adult suffrage.
Turkey is a predominantly mountainous country, and true lowland is confined to the coastal fringes. About one-fourth of the surface has an elevation above 4,000 feet (1,200 metres), and less than two-fifths lies below 1,500 feet (460 metres). Mountain crests exceed 7,500 feet (2,300 metres) in many places, particularly in the east, where Turkey’s highest mountain, Mount Ararat (Ağrı), reaches 16,945 feet (5,165 metres) close to the borders with Armenia and Iran. In the southeast the Uludoruk Peak reaches 15,563 feet (4,744 metres); though further west, the Demirkazık Peak (12,320 feet [3,755 metres]) and Mount Aydos (11,414 feet [3,479 metres]) are also significant peaks. Steep slopes are common throughout the country, and flat or gently sloping land makes up barely one-sixth of the total area. These relief features affect other aspects of the physical environment, producing climates often much harsher than might be expected for a country of Turkey’s latitude and reducing the availability and productivity of agricultural land. Structurally, the country lies within the geologically young folded-mountain zone of Eurasia, which in Turkey trends predominantly east to west. The geology of Turkey is complex, with sedimentary rocks ranging from Paleozoic to Quaternary, numerous intrusions, and extensive areas of volcanic material. Four main regions can be identified: the northern folded zone, the southern folded zone, the central massif, and the Arabian platform.
The northern folded zone
The northern folded zone comprises a series of mountain ridges, increasing in elevation toward the east, that occupy a belt about 90 to 125 miles (145 to 200 km) wide immediately south of the Black Sea. The system as a whole is referred to as the Pontic Mountains (Doğukaradeniz Dağları). In the west the system has been fractured by the faulting that produced the Turkish straits; in Thrace the Ergene lowlands are among the largest in the country, and the main mountain range—the Yıldız (Istranca)—reaches only 3,379 feet (1,030 metres). Lowlands also occur to the south of the Sea of Marmara and along the lower Sakarya River east of the Bosporus. High ridges trending east-west rise abruptly from the Black Sea coast, and the coastal plain is thus narrow, opening out only in the deltas of the Kızıl and Yeşil rivers. These rivers break through the mountain barrier in a zone of weakness where summits are below 2,000 feet (600 metres), dividing the Pontic Mountains into western and eastern sections. In the western section, between the Sakarya and Kızıl rivers, there are four main ridges: the Küre, Bolu, Ilgaz, and Köroğlu mountains. East of the Yeşil the system is higher, narrower, and steeper. Less than 50 miles from the coast, peaks rise to more than 10,000 feet (3,000 metres), with a maximum elevation of 12,917 feet (3,937 metres) in the Kaçkar range. Separated by the narrow trough of the Kelkit and Çoruh river valleys stands a second ridge that rises above 8,000 feet (2,400 metres).
Turkey !! Mediterranean Paradise !! Full HD Documentary
FAQ
Is Turkey considered a Mediterranean country?
Is Turkey a Mediterranean food?
Is Turkey Aegean or Mediterranean?
What is considered Mediterranean?