Where is Turkey Located on a Map?

With its beautiful blue coastlines, fascinating history, and vibrant culture, Turkey has become an increasingly popular tourist destination and an important regional power. But Turkey has an intriguing geographic location that confuses some people looking at a map. Where exactly is Turkey located? This article will explore Turkey’s location and provide various maps to give you a great understanding of where this fascinating country sits in the world.

Turkey – A Transcontinental Nation

Turkey is considered a transcontinental country, meaning it exists on more than one continent. The country straddles the boundary between Europe and Asia.

Specifically, Turkey occupies a large area of the Anatolian peninsula, which makes up the westernmost protrusion of Asia. However, a small area of Turkey also extends into the Balkan region of southeastern Europe.

This gives Turkey the unique status of having territory on two different continents – something only a handful of other countries in the world can claim.

The European Portion of Turkey

About 3% of Turkey’s land area is located on the European continent. This sliver of land on the country’s western edge is called Eastern Thrace or Turkish Thrace. It borders Greece and Bulgaria.

The largest city in Eastern Thrace is Edirne which lies close to the Greek and Bulgarian borders. Other cities include Tekirdag Kırklareli, and the industrial hub of Cerkezkoy.

The European side of Turkey does not contain any of the country’s most famous tourist destinations But it provides an important land bridge between Turkey and Europe Several major roads and railways connect Eastern Thrace to the Balkans and Western Europe,

The Asian Portion of Turkey

The much larger Asian section of Turkey makes up around 97% of the country’s total land area. This part of Turkey is situated on the Anatolian peninsula, which protrudes westward from the massive Eurasian landmass.

Some of Turkey’s most iconic sites like Cappadocia, Ephesus, and Mount Ararat are located in the Asian portion. It also contains the country’s largest city, Istanbul, which straddles the Bosporus Strait that divides Europe from Asia.

Other major cities in the Asian part of Turkey include the capital Ankara situated high on the Anatolian plateau, as well as Izmir, Bursa, and Adana located along the coastlines.

What Separates the European and Asian Sides?

The small European portion of Turkey is separated from the much larger Asian part by a series of important waterways:

• The Bosporus Strait connects the Sea of Marmara to the Black Sea and divides the city of Istanbul into its European and Asian districts. At its narrowest point, the strait is less than 3000 feet wide.

• The short Dardanelles Strait links the Sea of Marmara to the Aegean Sea and Mediterranean beyond. It is located near the city of Çanakkale.

• The Sea of Marmara is an inland sea that sits between the straits, separating Eastern Thrace from Anatolia. It takes its name from the Greek word for marble, which came from quarries on the south shore.

These bodies of water collectively form the Turkish Straits that divide Turkey’s European and Asian regions. They have great historical and strategic significance as the only maritime route between the Black Sea and Mediterranean.

Where is Turkey Located on a World Map?

Looking at a map of the entire world shows how Turkey’s transcontinental position gives it connections to both Europe and Asia. The country acts as a bridge and crossroads between the two neighboring continents.

Some key details to note about Turkey’s location on a world map:

• Turkey borders the Mediterranean Sea to the south, providing thousands of miles of coastline along the popular Turkish Riviera.

• The Aegean Sea sits to the west of the country between Greece and Turkey. Many of Turkey’s most famous ancient ruins lie along the Aegean coast.

• The Black Sea lies to the north. Important commercial ports line Turkey’s northern shores, and the Black Sea region has a more temperate climate than other parts of the country.

• Turkey shares land borders with Greece and Bulgaria to the west, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Iran to the east, and Iraq and Syria to the southeast. Its location has given Turkey great geopolitical and economic importance through the centuries.

• Istanbul, the country’s largest and most famous city, straddles the Bosporus Strait between the European and Asian continents. It occupies one of the world’s most strategic geographic locations.

Where is Turkey Located on a Map of Europe and Asia?

Focusing in on a map of Europe and Asia gives you a closer view of how Turkey’s territory spans these two bordering continents.

The European portion of Turkey is located on the southeastern tip of Europe within the Balkan Peninsula. It shares land borders with Greece and Bulgaria.

Eastern Thrace has an area of around 23,764 km2, making up about 3% of Turkey’s total 783,562 km2 land area.

Across the Sea of Marmara, the much vaster Asian portion of Turkey takes up most of the Anatolian Peninsula. It shares borders with Georgia, Armenia, Iran, Iraq, and Syria.

Some of Turkey’s most famous destinations like Cappadocia, Ephesus, and Pamukkale are all located in the Asian part of the country.

Turkey’s Geographic Importance

Turkey’s strategic positioning between Europe and Asia helps explain why the region has been of such great importance for trade, transport, and conquest through the centuries.

Land routes like the legendary Silk Road passed through Turkey’s central Anatolian territory. And the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits have long given Turkey control over the only sea passage between the Mediterranean and Black Sea.

Turkey has at different times been part of the Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire, and Ottoman Empire – a testament to the land’s geographic and strategic significance linking West and East.

So looking at a map of this fascinating country quickly reveals why Turkey holds such an important place in world geography, history, and culture. Its transcontinental territory truly bridges Europe and Asia.