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
Turkey’s location has long been a source of fascination, straddling the boundary between Europe and Asia. While most of Turkey’s landmass lies within Asia, a small portion extends into the European continent. This unique positioning at the crossroads of two continents has shaped Turkey’s culture and history. In this article, we’ll explore Turkey’s geographical placement and how it fits into the European map.
Turkey’s Borders in Europe
Roughly 3% of Turkey’s land area falls within the borders of Europe, specifically in the region known as East Thrace This European section of Turkey consists of 23,764 km2 of land and borders Greece and Bulgaria. The Turkish city of Istanbul lies at the heart of this European gateway, with the famous Bosphorus Strait separating Istanbul’s European and Asian sides
The borders of Turkey’s European territory are
- Greece to the west.
- Bulgaria to the northwest.
- The Aegean Sea to the southwest.
- The Sea of Marmara and Bosphorus Strait to the south.
- The Black Sea to the north.
Is Turkey Considered Part of Europe Politically?
Despite having territory in Europe, Turkey is not considered part of the European Union (EU) politically. It remains an official candidate for EU membership but accession negotiations have stalled in recent years. Turkey joined the Council of Europe in 1949 and NATO in 1952, aligning itself with Western European nations politically and militarily. However, ongoing issues around human rights, press freedom, and other EU criteria have hindered its full integration into the EU.
Where Does the Boundary Between Europe and Asia Lie?
The geographical boundary between the European and Asian continents has been subject to varying interpretations over the centuries. Currently, the most widely accepted delineation follows these lines
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The Turkish Straits (the Bosphorus, Sea of Marmara, and the Dardanelles) divide Europe and Asia. The Bosphorus specifically separates Europe and Asia in Istanbul.
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The Aegean Sea further southwest separates the Greek mainland and Turkish-occupied Eastern Thrace in Europe from Anatolia in Asia.
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The border then follows the watershed divides of the Rhodope and Rila mountains in Bulgaria before reaching the Black Sea.
Turkey’s control of Eastern Thrace gives it a foothold in Southeastern Europe, while the vast majority of its territory lies in Western Asia.
Where are Other European Countries in Relation to Turkey?
To give a better sense of Turkey’s fit within Europe, here is a brief look at the relative locations of surrounding nations:
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Greece lies directly west of Turkey, with only a narrow stretch of the Aegean Sea separating the two.
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Bulgaria shares a border with Turkey to the northwest. The capital Sofia is around 515 km from Istanbul.
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Romania is situated northeast of Turkey, with Bucharest roughly 760 km from Istanbul.
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Ukraine borders Turkey’s northeastern neighbor Georgia. Kiev is approximately 1,130 km from Istanbul.
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Russia’s southwestern edges reach the Black Sea coast just north of Turkey. Moscow lies roughly 1,620 km north of Istanbul.
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Italy and Turkey are separated by the Mediterranean Sea. Rome is approximately 1,710 km west of Istanbul.
So while Turkey lies at the periphery of Europe, it remains relatively close to core European nations in the Balkans and southern Europe while also bordering the Middle East. Its strategic positioning has long given it control of vital trade and transport routes between Europe and Asia.
Which Turkish Cities are in Europe?
In addition to Istanbul, other cities in the European part of Turkey include:
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Edirne – located near the borders with Greece and Bulgaria.
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Kırklareli – near Bulgaria in the northeast.
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Tekirdağ – on the northern coast of the Sea of Marmara.
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Gelibolu – a peninsula bordering the Dardanelles strait.
The largest concentrations of population and economic activity are centered around Istanbul, but these cities also represent important economic and cultural centers linking Turkey with Europe.
Where Does the Name Turkey Come From?
The origins of the name “Turkey” are unclear, but it emerged around the 14th century and referred to the area ruled by the Ottoman Turks. Previously, Europeans referred to the Anatolian peninsula region as “Asia Minor.” The official name of the modern country is the Republic of Turkey.
While only a small portion of Turkey lies within Europe’s borders, its strategic placement between the continents has been crucial in shaping its identity. Istanbul in particular has one foot in Europe and one in Asia. Ongoing political complexities have blocked Turkey’s full integration with the EU, yet it retains strong ties with the West. Geographically, Turkey’s proximity and connections to the Balkans and Black Sea regions mean it remains intertwined with the European landmass despite its Asian roots.
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).
Recent NewsAug. 19, 2024, 11:07 AM ET (AP)
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.
Is Turkey in Europe or Asia | Turkey is Asia or Europe
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